Blog

When it comes to updating their living space, some homeowners enjoy doing the research and then planning, designing, and decorating on their own. Many believe they will save a substantial amount of money. 

While that may be true, they may also be doing themselves a disservice by overlooking the benefits of hiring an interior designer (who can create and maximize functional living space) and/or an interior decorator (who can furnish and adorn a home or room for aesthetic appeal). While homeowners may seek inspiration from magazines and websites, designers and decorators know how to adapt those concepts to the available space. They can also ensure that their suggestions and recommendations are practical and attainable and take advantage of the latest products and systems available. In addition, they can offer the added benefit of applying rebates and discounts from manufacturers, importers, and trade showrooms – which the average consumer simply can’t get. Those discounts may even help offset the cost of the professional fees. But perhaps the greatest benefit of hiring professionals is the peace of mind that comes from knowing they can save you a great deal of time, especially if you have too many ideas or none at all.

Looking for more helpful tips and information? Contact us at 647-232-7743 today.

What do you notice when you visit a model home in a new development? Often, you will find wonderfully furnished and decorated rooms that anyone could live in.
The operative word here is “anyone”.

Sure, there might be a computer screen on a desk in the den, or a child’s doll sitting in a corner, but for the most part, all the rooms are anonymous. There is a sense of family, but no specific family… the feeling of personality, but no specific person.

The professionals who set up a model home make it anonymous for a reason. They want buyers to view it as their potential home, not someone else’s. These professionals know - based on decades of experience - that this strategy helps sell houses faster and for a better price.

Why not use this same strategy when showing your home?

It’s easy. Just put away that soccer trophy, take down the wedding photo, and box those souvenirs from the family vacation at Disneyland. No, you don’t have to completely empty your closets and drawers. Just pack those personal items that can be seen when a potential buyer views a room. Put away toothbrushes, collectibles, even unopened mail. Don’t forget to clear the fridge door, which is often a mosaic of personal items in family homes.

If you have lots of personal items, consider renting a storage unit for the few weeks that your house will be on the market. It’s worth the investment.

You wouldn’t think of buying a birthday cake with a stranger’s name on it. Keep that in mind when you show your home. Make it anonymous!

Need more ideas for selling your house faster and for the best price possible? Call 647-232-7743 or email us at [email protected] today.

It’s a good idea to clean or replace your home’s air filters and screens at least once a year to help keep your indoor environment safe from mold, dust mites, and other allergens.

But don’t stop at your heating, ventilation, and cooling/air-conditioning systems. Think of all the other filters and screens that need cleanings, such as those in humidifiers, range hoods, bathroom fans, and windows. Unfortunately, homeowners often neglect to clean or replace their range hood filters. This can lead to a thick buildup of greasy residue that could easily compromise the important function of removing cooking gases, odors, and humidity from the stovetop area. The result can be unhealthy air trapped in your kitchen, not to mention an accumulation of a thin film on your walls, ceilings, and countertops.

Likewise, bathroom fans and window screens can trap layers of dust over time that will hinder the free flow of air to and from the rooms you want to be well ventilated.

Whether you're planning to sell or refinance, a home appraisal is a necessary step in determining the true value of your home. This means your home should be in the best possible condition, so it will be appraised at the highest potential value. While it may be tempting to swing for the fences with big-ticket renovations, there are smaller things you can do to efficiently raise the market value of your home.

Start Small with a Little Spackle
If you've lived in your home for any length of time, you've probably hung things on the walls, put up shelves, or simply had accidents that resulted in minor damage. Now is the time to repair those blemishes. Filling these holes and crevices with a little spackle and painting over the area will leave your walls looking like new. While this may not boost the value of your home, it will keep the appraiser from deducting for the damage.

As Long as You're Painting...
After you've touched up your walls, you might want to consider freshening up the paint. Repainting worn trim and moldings around the home can give it a fresh look. Venture outside and touch up the trim around the windows and doors too. This will boost curb appeal and help you add value to the home. Any area where the paint is peeling, chipping, or simply has lost its luster should be retouched with a fresh coat.

Update Your Crawl Spaces
An upgrade that's growing in popularity (and will grow your home value) is crawl space encapsulation. Crawl spaces are essential for providing homeowners and contractors with access to important systems of the home. However, these spaces are vulnerable to moisture and water damage caused by humidity and harsh weather conditions. In drier climates, dust and insects can interfere with HVAC systems. To protect crawl spaces, homeowners have started sealing these spaces with polyethylene barriers to keep out moisture, dust, and pests.

Do a Deep Clean
This is also the time to really clean your home from top to bottom. If you have young children and pets, there may be odors and damage that might not be noticeable to you, but strong odors and scuffed hardwood floors will be the first things your appraiser notices. Consider hiring professionals to wax the floors, shampoo the carpets, and conduct an intensive cleaning of the entire home.

Whether you're planning to sell or refinance, a home appraisal is a necessary step in determining the true value of your home. This means your home should be in the best possible condition, so it will be appraised at the highest potential value. While it may be tempting to swing for the fences with big-ticket renovations, there are smaller things you can do to efficiently raise the market value of your home.

Start Small with a Little Spackle
If you've lived in your home for any length of time, you've probably hung things on the walls, put up shelves, or simply had accidents that resulted in minor damage. Now is the time to repair those blemishes. Filling these holes and crevices with a little spackle and painting over the area will leave your walls looking like new. While this may not boost the value of your home, it will keep the appraiser from deducting for the damage.

As Long as You're Painting...
After you've touched up your walls, you might want to consider freshening up the paint. Repainting worn trim and moldings around the home can give it a fresh look. Venture outside and touch up the trim around the windows and doors too. This will boost curb appeal and help you add value to the home. Any area where the paint is peeling, chipping, or simply has lost its luster should be retouched with a fresh coat.

Update Your Crawl Spaces
An upgrade that's growing in popularity (and will grow your home value) is crawl space encapsulation. Crawl spaces are essential for providing homeowners and contractors with access to important systems of the home. However, these spaces are vulnerable to moisture and water damage caused by humidity and harsh weather conditions. In drier climates, dust and insects can interfere with HVAC systems. To protect crawl spaces, homeowners have started sealing these spaces with polyethylene barriers to keep out moisture, dust, and pests.

Do a Deep Clean
This is also the time to really clean your home from top to bottom. If you have young children and pets, there may be odors and damage that might not be noticeable to you, but strong odors and scuffed hardwood floors will be the first things your appraiser notices. Consider hiring professionals to wax the floors, shampoo the carpets, and conduct an intensive cleaning of the entire home.

Conduct Other Repairs
At some point, you should tour your home with the mindset of a home buyer. This will help you identify problems that you live with every day but just don't notice anymore. Look for things that need to be repaired, such as a loose handrail, a leaky faucet, or a shorted electrical outlet. Repairing these problems ahead of time will ensure you won't lose money on the appraisal.

By taking the time to spruce up the home ahead of the appraisal, you may be able to increase the value by thousands of dollars. The suggestions offered here should give you a head start, but if you have additional questions on how to add more value to your home, don't hesitate to reach out me.At some point, you should tour your home with the mindset of a home buyer. This will help you identify problems that you live with every day but just don't notice anymore. Look for things that need to be repaired, such as a loose handrail, a leaky faucet, or a shorted electrical outlet. Repairing these problems ahead of time will ensure you won't lose money on the appraisal.

By taking the time to spruce up the home ahead of the appraisal, you may be able to increase the value by thousands of dollars. The suggestions offered here should give you a head start, but if you have additional questions on how to add more value to your home, don't hesitate to reach out me.

 

 

Whoever said "don't judge a book by its cover" was clearly not a real estate aficionado. While we'd agree that this mantra is foolproof in most scenarios, there's no denying that curb appeal is one of the most important factors in your home's overall appeal. Aside from wanting to impress your neighbors and guests, and make a great first impression, your front door is a feature that you'll come face-to-face with day in and day out. Our opinion? It's worth some serious consideration.

Modern exterior doors make a strong statement, often incorporating features like steel, glass, geometric shapes, and sleek profiles. While they're certainly no stranger to neutrals like black and gray, they also can pack a punch with bold colors, like a glossy red or vibrant orange. Intrigued? Ahead, we're sharing nine modern exterior doors that will completely transform your home's entry.

1. Opt for an oversize door handle.

When it comes to modern exteriors, a classic doorknob is far from the only option. Instead, try an oversize pull like the one pictured here from CBW Doors. The etched glass inserts subtly mimic the long, slender shape of the hardware, acting as the perfect complement.

2. Add interest with geometric details.

Geometric details add a modern edge to this otherwise classic front door set-up from Door & More. Follow their lead, and flank your entrance with leafy plants for additional texture and symmetry.

3. Juxtapose traditional details.
While this mahogany door from Knockety is sleek and modern, the traditional house siding, windows, and lantern lend the perfect juxtaposition. To create this look, mix a cool shade of blue with warm wood tones for effortless balance.

4. Make windows the focus.
This iron modern exterior door from Acanvaco is simple and refined, allowing the bold architecture to take center stage. Floor-to-ceiling drapery offers privacy and a touch of softness to balance the brick, concrete, and iron.

5. Inject luxury with steel-framed doors.
Steel framed doors immediately scream luxury, and while this bold look from Clark Hall Doors & Windows feels somewhat traditional at first glance, the stark black metal finish gives it a modern edge. And the cherry on top? A pair of topiaries in black planters, that seamlessly tie the two styles together.

6. Add a rustic touch with wood.
Rustic accents blend effortlessly with modern decor, and your front door is no exception. This style from CBW Doors pairs especially well with matte black hardware and modern landscaping.


7. Make a statement with double doors.
Why have one modern exterior door when you can have two? This double entry from Door & More immediately turns a boring doorway into a grand entrance, especially when paired with dramatic outdoor lighting.

8. Add a pop of color with red.
Modern doesn't mean boring, and this vibrant modern exterior door is a clear case study. Between the ultra-sleek pivot hinge, exaggerated size, and simple profile, we can't decide which is our favorite part. Pro-tip: Make sure to paint the door and the frame in the same shade for consistency.

9. Go matte black.
This matte black modern exterior door by FritsJurgens makes an unfussy (yet bold) statement thanks to sleek gold hardware and gray floor tile. Flank with slim windows to allow in extra light and to keep your doorway feeling bright and airy.

 

Your home is most likely your largest investment. 

Insurance may be one of your biggest budget items These 9 tips can help you save a significant amount of money on your homeowner's insurance premium. They may take a bit of work up front, but they will be extremely beneficial in the long run.

Home insurance rates are based on a number of factors about you and your home, but there are still many ways you reduce costs to get more affordable homeowners insurance. You’re probably wondering how to save on homeowners insurance, so here are the top 9 ways that you can save money on your homeowner's insurance.

1. Bundle your home and auto insurance
One of the easiest ways to save money on your home insurance is to bundle your car and home insurance together with one company. Many insurance companies offer policyholders home insurance discounts for bundling if they purchase both their home and car insurance with the same company.

A bundling discount could potentially save you a significant amount of money on your insurance. If you don’t bundle your policies, see if your insurance company offers a bundling discount and see if it can save you money on your homeowner's insurance premium.

2. Make improvements to your home (disaster resistance, roof, etc.)
Tackling some home improvement projects could not only make your home safer and more efficient, but it could also decrease the cost of homeowners' insurance. If your home is older and has old electrical wiring, plumbing, and other systems, consider checking how much it would cost to upgrade them. Older homes typically have higher premiums. Older systems make your home more at risk for fire or flood, thus increasing your homeowner's insurance premium.

Likewise, if your home’s roof is old, it’s more at risk for leaks and storm damage. Improvements such as these can help make your home safer and lower the cost of homeowners' insurance because of the lowered risk of a claim.


3. Make your home more disaster-resistant
Another way to reduce insurance costs by reducing the risk of your home is to make your home more resistant to disasters. Some insurance companies may decrease your home insurance premium or offer discounts to those who have disaster-resistant elements to their home. Severe wind, hurricanes, earthquakes, hail, blizzards, and other storms can cause significant damage to your home.

Depending on the weather in your area, you may be able to make your home stronger against severe weather conditions and, in turn, you may be rewarded with a home insurance discount.

4. Install safety and security features
One of the most common home insurance discounts offered by insurance companies is a discount for safety and security features in your home. This may include a burglar alarm, but also may include other home technologies. If your home is equipped with safety and security features, make sure you’re receiving a discount for them if your insurer offers one. If your home has not yet been equipped with the technology, consider adding it to your home to improve your family’s safety and also lower the cost of home insurance.

5. Increase the deductible amount on your homeowner's insurance
One way to lower the cost of your home insurance is to increase your home insurance deductible. A homeowner's insurance deductible is the money you pay out of pocket when you have a home insurance claim. For example, if you have a claim and your policy has a deductible of $1,000, you would need to pay $1,000 and then your home insurance policy would kick in and would cover the remaining cost to fix the damage.

Increasing your home insurance deductible will likely lower the cost of your homeowner's insurance premium. However, keep in mind that if you raise your deductible, it will cost you more money in the event that you have to file a homeowner's insurance claim. Before raising your deductible, make sure it’s the right decision for you financially.


6. Make sure you’re receiving all the discounts you qualify for
There are a number of homeowners insurance discounts available that you may not even know about. Make sure you’re receiving all the discounts you qualify for in order to get the maximum savings.

Some home insurance discounts to look out for include a gated community discount, claims-free discount, loyalty discount, age-based discount, affinity discount, and profession discounts (often military, medical professions, and teachers). When getting insurance, check with the company to see if they can provide you with a list of discounts the company offers. If you qualify for a discount, make sure you’re receiving it and it’s reflected on your policy.

7. Work on improving your credit score
In most states (except Hawaii and Maryland), your credit score may affect the cost of homeowners' insurance. It may depend on your insurance company and if it uses your credit score as a factor for determining the cost of your homeowner's insurance premium.

While there are many benefits to improving your credit score, a lower homeowner's insurance price if one of them.


8. Reassess your home insurance coverage
If it has been a while since you’ve reassessed your home insurance policy, you may want to take a look at it and make sure it’s still a good fit for you. When you do this, look at your coverage options and limits.

Are there any coverage options included that you no longer need? Are there any coverage options that aren’t included that should be? Also, make sure your personal property coverage limit still matches the value of your belongings.

Reassessing your coverage could help lower your homeowner's insurance premium and also ensure that you’re not underinsured. The latter can help you save money in the long run if you were to need to file a claim.

9. Shop around for new homeowners insurance
Lastly, shopping around and getting multiple insurance quotes is one of the most important ways to save money on homeowners insurance. If you renew your policy every year with the same insurance company and you don’t shop around and test the market, you’re likely leaving savings on the table.

Consider shopping around for new homeowners' insurance every year or every two years to see if you can save money by switch companies. To do this, get homeowners insurance quotes from at least three different companies. The more quotes that you get, the more likely you are to find cheap homeowners insurance.

When comparing quotes, compare the price of each policy, policy options and coverage, and the reputability of the company. While the price is very important, you don’t want to sacrifice valuable coverage or trustworthiness of a company. It could cost you money in the long run if the company denies your claim or gives you sub-par customer service. You need to find a company that offers the best value.