9 Weekend Projects That Add To Home Values by PorchLyte!
Looking to finally sell your current house and move to your dream home? Or maybe you just want to improve your place and reap the benefits of an outstanding property later on? Whichever side of the fence you’re on, there are lots of simple value-adding tricks you can do to give your humble abode an edge. To help you add some pizzazz to your place, we’ve rounded up a list of simple weekend projects you and your family can take on to spruce up your home. 1. Apply a fresh coat of paint Perhaps the simplest, most surefire way to liven up any home is to apply a fresh new coat of gorgeous paint. Not only does it instantly increase the value of any property, but it gives the house a brand new look & feel. Don’t be afraid to shake up your palette and experiment with colors you haven’t tried. For a more contemporary look, you can always count on neutrals. But don’t stop there – maybe add a vibrant color that will pop and bring life to the place. Whatever route you go for, a fresh coat of paint will always be a good task to undertake. 2. Beautify your garden Sprucing up your existing garden with a couple of new plants and flowers will surely make your house look fresh and wonderful. If you’re looking for something you can immediately do this weekend, why don’t you visit a local nursery to purchase your new plant collection? However, if you want a project that’ll potentially increase your house’s appeal for a longer time, we suggest planting a few trees, starting a new herb garden, and maintaining a fabulous flower garden. Although these will take longer than a weekend, these’ll make for great projects under the warmth of the sun. 3. Refresh your kitchen There’s no doubt that the kitchen has become one of the most valuable parts of the house. Apart from being the place where delicious home-cooked meals are whipped up, this also easily becomes a hub for socializing when you have guests over. Just by doing some easy weekend projects, you’ll be able to liven up that adorable kitchen of yours: Put on a fresh coat of light-colored paint on the walls Repaint or refinish kitchen cabinets Work with new tile backsplash Try assembling a concrete kitchen top 4. Give your laundry room a makeover A good clean-up and organization will go a long way for your laundry room, making it more of a place of relaxation instead of chores. Consider adorning the area with scented candles, a fan, or even a nook for a moody break time while waiting for the laundry. Some plants will help add some laidback notes too, turning it into a space of life rather than just for utility. The laundry room is an underrated asset of any home. It keeps our sheets and clothes clean, so it makes sense to give it some good ol’ makeover. 5. DIY bathroom makeover As years go by, the bathroom often gets left out of style. Outdated fixtures, tacky paint scheme, maybe a bit of troublesome hardware. Or who knows, maybe it just needs some cleaning. Here are some tips on how you can liven up your bathroom easily: Update and use similarly-themed fixtures/knobs/handles Clean the floors and yes, even the grout Add some plants for a feeling of freshness Get some lively lighting, like an accent light or two. Apply a fresh coat of paint 6. Start spring cleaning Since Spring is in full swing, why not take advantage of the warm energy to raid your closets, pantries, garage, and everywhere else for a decluttering session? Time to tackle those storage boxes you’ve been dreading to clean up. Don’t worry, you can be eco-friendly by donating or recycling your pre-loved valuables. Not only do you get to clean up your space, but you get to give your unused things a second chance at life. 7. Personalize your mailbox’s look In the age of lightning-speed connectivity, yes, it’s still worth it to update your mailbox’s look. For a more personalized feel, try painting its body with your favorite color. You can even get the rest of your family to contribute to the design and turn it into artwork. 8. Update light fixtures We’re in the modern era, so it’s probably about time to upgrade your old light fixtures and get with the times. You can add a hanging lamp down the kitchen table or island to give a more warm and inviting mood, or maybe add accent lamps in the living room for that cozy feeling. Lighting inside a room is essential as it sets the mood for all occasions, so don’t neglect it. 9. Install smart home features The houses of the future have officially arrived. The best part? Yours can turn into a smart home, too. The use of smart technology at home has been skyrocketing as tech becomes more and more integral to our lives. Adding any smart feature to your home, big or small, makes a difference. Not only does it make life just a bit simpler, but also attracts a new market for your house down the road. You can start small and just try it out, maybe with a smart lighting setup or a smart thermostat – cold or warm in a flick of a finger. Ready to add value to your home? We hope you found these home weekend project ideas useful. Doing any of the ones listed will not only add value to your property but also, it’s a chance to learn so much more about your house and what it needs. Put those handiness skills to work this weekend! And remember to enjoy the place you live in, it’s your home. Credit for this post goes to PorchLyte! The pointers were just too on pointe to not share.
I am retiring, what changes can I make in my home?
We all like to think retirement is full of traveling, new hobbies and hanging out with friends. However, it is true that a lot more time will be spent at home. Listening to my parents, their friends and my friends as they retire, I and hearing lots of concern about how their homew function for them: stairs, slippery floors, handles and wheel chair access. Now that you have retired and have some time on your hands and hopefully some funds saved to make improvements, it is time to look at how your home might need to work better for you. There is a phrase in the real estate world called "age in place." This means that you are choosing to stay where you can as long as you can while living a quality life. What are your possible health, social and emotional needs as you move into the next phase of life? Look at your home with thoughts in mind of how you will be living there as you are older. Below are some tips from PorchLyte to help guide you. 1. Build your life around the first floor If you live in a multi-story home, it’s time to quit the stairs and settle living on the first floor alone. This means relocating all amenities on one level, including the master bedroom, bathroom, and laundry area. Depending on the space, you can either build these rooms from scratch or go the more cost-effective route of converting existing rooms on the first floor. Not only will your knees thank you for this, but limiting traffic on just one level will make your home easier to maintain and clean up. Pro-tip: When relocating your bedroom, choose the quietest area away from traffic noise. This is because as you enter your senior years, it’ll be much harder to sleep deeply. Catch those zzz’s by doing this! 2.Set up a fitness spot Don’t have a personal gym yet? Now’s the time to dedicate an area for fitness equipment such as a treadmill, yoga mat, and senior-friendly dumbbells. You can do this within the first floor or set it up outdoors to catch some sun while working out. 3. Choose a slip-resistant flooring Switching from slippery flooring to slip-resistant is your first step to catching yourself from falling over or tripping in the future. Some options include vinyl, linoleum, cork, and carpet. These are also resilient floors, meaning they were engineered for comfort, giving your legs a break from all the other rigid floor choices. 4. Create an accessible entry point As you age, little things– like climbing two or three steps leading to your front door – suddenly become a daunting task. To ensure that you can step in and out of your house without hassle, you can install a ramp or a gradually-inclined walkway with a handrail. Through this, you will still be able to access your home should you need the help of a wheelchair or walker one day. While you’re at it, you can widen interior doorways by adding in a few extra inches. To fit a wheelchair, set your target doorway width at 32 inches or higher. 5. Make your bathroom senior-friendly A couple of upgrades will help you avoid fall-related incidents in the bath. A common tip would be installing grab bars in the shower, toilet area, sink, or other areas where you’d lean on. Plus, you may want to replace a bathtub with a walk-in shower unit with a handheld shower head. This type of shower head gives you more flexibility while you bathe. 6. Invest in tech & security solutions Does tech freak you out? We sure hope not ‘cause smart home devices would make for valuable upgrades when you retire. If you haven’t heard of the concept, your home becomes a ‘smart home’ when you furnish it with electronic gadgets designed to perform automated tasks when you command it. Lights, heating, door locks, and appliances can be voice-activated. Futuristic, isn’t it? If you don’t have one yet, you may want to consider setting up a CCTV and an alarm system for you and your property’s protection. Also, don’t be shy in plastering signs that say your home is under constant surveillance. This measure shoos away potential criminals who might take advantage of your vulnerability as an elder. 7. Repaint and redecorate to match your style Have you always wanted to paint your house a certain color but never did? Don’t let this turn into another ‘what if’ and do it! While it is recommended to choose a calming palette, the color of your forever home will be solely up to you. You can also perform other mini aesthetic projects such as redecorating the living room with plants, spicing up a bland wall with photo frames, and placing fresh flowers in the kitchen. We hope these tips help you create a home you can enjoy well beyond your retirement years! Thanks to the team at PorchLyte for the great tips!
Why Buy Now? - Interest Rates
There is a lot of talk out there about interest rates going up, inflation, and how that affects the real estate market. In order to understand the talk, let's get some perspective. To me, that means getting a brief history of interest rates. Here is a chart of interest rates in March of every year since 1972. Notice that interest rates start out well above 5% and peak in 1972 at around 17%. Then the rates go into a decline period with some peaks and valleys along the way. The bright spot is that they have been at or below 5% for a 30-year loan since 2009. All of this is to just say, that while interest rates are creeping up again and we have talked of inflation, historically speaking interest rates are still low. Why does this matter? It matters because everyone out there wants to get the most for their money. If you are paying more to the bank then you don't have money to spend on the things you love. Trip to Key West, for example. With home prices on the rise due to low inventory and housing starts, it makes sense to take advantage of these low-interest rates. Here is an example of what rising interest rates can mean for your home purchase. Take a $300k loan amount at 4.10% for 30 years. That is a monthly payment of $1,450 without taxes or fees. That same loan back in 2008 was $1,793. That is a savings of $4,116 a year. Not sure about y'all but that would be money I could sure spend elsewhere! Now let us take that monthly payment of $1,450 and compare it to continuing to rent or lease. On average, rent in the US is a whopping $2,623. Wow, I mean just, wow! That is $1,179 back into your pocket each month on that 30-year loan we looked at above. Yes, there is more to a monthly house payment to consider like taxes, PMI(Private Mortgage Interest), and insurance. We can talk about that next. 'Til next time, Happy House Hunting!
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