When you move into a new home, perhaps one of the first things that you’ll want to do is paint. Really, there’s no right way to choose a paint color. There’s many different methods to find colors that are going to match with your rooms. When you get to the hardware store, you may end up feeling a bit overwhelmed by the hundreds of shades of each and every color that appear on swatches. You can go through many different thought processes in order to choose the color that’s right for each room in your home.
Don’t Paint First
Sometimes, the best thing to do is to paint after everything else is done. This may seem like a less-than-ideal way to approach moving into your new home, but it works. Paint can always be changed. You can use the strategy of moving into the house first. Then, you’ll buy the furniture to match the room or get your existing furniture reupholstered if needed. If you’re starting from scratch, it’s much more effective to put the larger pieces in and then decide on a paint color.
If You Like It, Paint it!
You really have to like a color for it to be on your walls. You can always get some sample paints and try it on your walls to see if you like the colors. Remember that all the advice in the world can’t replace what you love. You’re the one who has to live with the paint on your walls!
Study Paint Chips
The overwhelming wall of paint chips at the local hardware store is a necessity when it comes to choosing paint colors. Those little swatches are very useful. Don’t forget about the paint samples mentioned above as well. These small samples can help in really pinning down the color that you like. Remember that you’ll need to ignore the messages that your brain is trying to send you when comparing a sample color to the existing color on the wall. You’ll definitely want to look at samples more than one time for you to really know how you feel about a paint color in a room.
Don’t Rush
Take time in your space and think about what colors you visualize in the space. Ask yourself, “What kind of mood am I trying to create in this room?” Take your time when making paint color decisions. Sometimes rushing leads to poor decisions.
Know Your Accent Colors
Understanding how your accent colors will work with certain paint colors will allow you to make a better decision about what kind of paint color to choose. Your paint color will have a relationship with your sofa, the trim, the flooring, the fixtures, the curtains, and more. Knowing what kind of colors you have to work with from the start can help you to choose the right color to feature in the room.
We may drool over homes that we see on TV, wondering if we could ever have a home that measures up. The truth is that anyone can have the benefits of luxury living with the right adjustments made to a property. We’ll take a look at some of the most prominent features of luxury homes and how you can have them in your own home- all at a less-than-luxury price.
Open Floor Plans
Homes with grand entryways, and elaborate architecture present as you enter tend to be a sign of luxury. However, the open floor plan is the most important part of a luxury home. This gives the feeling of open spaces, large rooms, and an airy feeling. Why wouldn’t you want to feel this way? Everyone can afford to make their home a bit more open simply by removing furniture or doing some simple remodeling.
Smart Homes Rule
A sign of a luxury home that’s actually readily accessible to everyone is that of a smart home. The more technology that’s present in the home, the more luxurious a home feels. Homeowners want every piece if technology that they can get their hands on when it comes to smart living. With the touch of a button, you can lock your doors, control the alarm system, or control your home’s climate. You don’t even have to be anywhere near your home to perform these operations. Installing wireless technologies is a great idea because they provide ease and a sense of security for homeowners.
Be Environmentally Friendly
If you decide to install some solar panels or build an addition to the home with reclaimed materials that could be very attractive to homebuyers. People are looking for ways to contribute to a better environment and save money at the same time. Environmentally friendly features in a home are very attractive to buyers. and provide a sense of luxury.
Outdoor Kitchen And Seating
An outdoor kitchen is truly a luxury item. People who are looking for a bit of luxury in their life look for a great outdoor living space. The kitchen should include a built-in grill, a sink, and a food prep area. You should also have adequate seating for this outdoor area. If you’re unable to install an entire kitchen, consider possibly installing just a built-in grill on its own. If you have the budget and the room, consider putting in a hot tub for the ultimate backyard of luxury.
Game And Theater Rooms
If you have a room of the house that can be used as a home theater or a game room, you have a golden piece of luxury that many people crave. Separate entertainment spaces are really an item that not many homes have. If you can finish your basement and transform it into either a home theater, game room, or both, your property has a piece of luxury with it.
If you want to sneak a peek into the lives of the rich and famous, now you can. Many prominent features of luxury homes are accessible to everyone with a bit of planning.
With school loans at an all-time high, and growing for each passing generation, many homeowners are ready to shoulder off any and all debt as quickly as possible. If you’re in this camp and looking to aggressively pay down debt there are a few options available when it comes to paying your mortgage off.
Seller concessions.
Also known as seller contributions, are where the seller agrees to pay a portion of the closing fees for the buyer. This can include title insurance, inspection fees, and processing fees. If the seller is looking to sell the house quickly they may consider agreeing to seller concessions.
Government options for loans.
Energy-efficient Mortgage (EEM) was created to help homeowners renovate to add environmentally friendly features to their home. So if you’re looking to install double-pane windows or update insulation this could be the loan for you.
Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans offer lower closing costs, smaller down payments, and a fair interest rate.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans can be applied to homes in rural areas, regardless of if they are a part of a farm. You may qualify to apply for zero down payment and loan payments will be at a fixed rate.
There are also many local programs offered at the state and city level. A quick Google search for loan options for your area should set you in the right direction!
Plan to Refinance
Down the road, you can refinance for a fifteen year home loan instead of thirty. You’ll pay off your loan in roughly half the time and save money on payments towards interest.
Throw It Everything You’ve Got
You’ll want to check with your lending company first as some have penalties for payments outside of the loan terms. However, if possible, making an extra payment either regularly or time to time will help cut down the overall time it takes to pay off your loan.
For example, you can make one extra mortgage payment each year or tighten up your day to day budget and apply what your savings towards your loan. Many homeowners get creative and take on side gigs to create the extra cash necessary to make additional payments.
If you don’t have that room to flex you can also always apply any bonuses, tax refunds or windfalls that come your way. This also makes a bigger impact when paired with regularly scheduled extra payments.
Aggressive debt payoff strategies aren’t for everyone. And that’s okay! However, if you’re looking to live a debt free life and enjoy your home knowing it’s been paid in total these tactics are for you. With some strategy and creativity, you can find plenty of ways to make the process go quickly and smoothly.
Everyone uses a slightly different set of guidelines when it comes to food safety, but some people's standards are a bit more "flexible" than others. The perfect example is the so-called "five second rule." If you're not familiar with it, that "rule" states that if you drop food on the floor (or ground) and pick it up within five seconds, then it's safe to eat!
In some cases, you can wash and safely eat food that has fallen on the floor, but it depends on the condition of the floor and what type of food you're dropping. While some mothers may jokingly say, "My kitchen floor is so clean you could eat off it," eating food that has fallen on the floor can be somewhat risky.
Although the 5-second-rule has its humorous side, food safety is a very serious subject. Making sure that perishable food is properly prepared, cooked, and refrigerated is one way to help keep your family healthy. There's also a psychological benefit to being careful with food safety: When you and your family know that your food is fresh, safely stored, and properly prepared, it helps give you peace of mind and makes mealtime more of a pleasurable experience.
Basic Food Safety Tips
One way to keep track of food freshness is to pay attention to expiration dates and other information printed on food labels. Another step involves putting your own labels on perishable foods and leftover food containers. "When in doubt, throw it out," is also a good policy to consider.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DOH) offers a number of helpful food safety guidelines to keep in mind and discuss with your family. To reduce the chances of cross-contamination and harmful bacteria growing on food, the agency recommends the following practices:
- Wash hands for 20 seconds before preparing food
- Wash food preparation surfaces, utensils, and cutting boards after each use
- Wash the outsides of fruits and vegetables to help remove bacteria and other impurities
- Promptly refrigerate food and follow recommended storage times and refrigeration temperatures
As an afterthought, the other advantage of putting dates on your food packages and leftover containers is that you avoid wasting food by throwing it away prematurely.
Healthy food preparation and storage does involve heightened awareness and sometimes creating new habits, but preventing food poisoning and other digestive ailments in your family is well worth the effort!
Buying a home is a life-changing event. As such, the decision to purchase a residence should not be taken lightly.
For homebuyers, it is paramount to get as much help as possible so you can discover a terrific house at a price that matches your budget. With support from an expert real estate agent, you should have no trouble acquiring a residence that meets or surpasses your expectations.
But what does it take to find the right real estate agent to assist you during your search for the perfect home? Here are three tips that every homebuyer needs to know.
1. Ask Family Members and Friends for Guidance
If a family member or friend recently bought a home, he or she may be able to provide real estate agent recommendations. Family members and friends are trusted sources, and their real estate agent recommendations may help you speed up the process of finding your dream house.
Your neighbors also may be able to real estate agent suggestions. They should be able to provide details about what it was like to work with a particular real estate agent so you can plan accordingly.
Of course, you should still perform plenty of research into a real estate professional's background and expertise before you hire this individual. Be diligent during your search for a real estate agent, and you can employ a real estate professional who will go the extra mile to help you discover a great house.
2. Search the Web
A simple web search of a real estate agent's name may enable you to learn a lot about this individual. In fact, a web search often provides a great way to find out about local real estate agents quickly.
Although a web search may help you examine a variety of real estate agents in your city or town, it is essential to fully evaluate a real estate professional's credentials.
If possible, search for client feedback about a real estate agent. This may help you determine whether to move forward with a particular real estate agent or shy away from this housing market professional altogether.
3. Meet Directly with Several Real Estate Agents
When it comes to finding the right real estate agent, nothing beats a one-on-one meeting.
Set up meetings with several local real estate agents. By doing so, you can get a better idea about whether a real estate agent can help you accomplish your homebuying goals.
It often helps to make a list of questions to ask a real estate agent before you meet with him or her. That way, you can gain the insights you need to make an informed decision.
If you feel comfortable with a real estate agent after a face-to-face meeting, don't hesitate to hire this professional. Remember, the sooner you start working with an expert real estate agent, the sooner you may be able to purchase your dream house.
Use these tips, and you can hire a first-rate real estate agent to guide you along the homebuying journey.
