 A welcoming and comfortable kitchen is the heart of a happy home. If you've spent time and money on a remodel but still feel something's missing, a few final touches that add extra character and style can make all the difference. Here are five simple and affordable ways to make your kitchen a room that you'll love to spend more time in. Glass Jars and Containers Open shelves filled with glass jars provide a fantastic-looking storage solution. Fill clear jars with dried beans, grains, or pasta for a rustic effect. Smaller colored-glass jars filled with herbs and spices are an attractive addition that also makes it easier to add zest to your cooking. Hanging Pot Rack A hanging pot rack is a storage option that also adds style. Hang your best-looking pots and pans above your stove so they're always within easy reach while also adding a sense of height and drama to the room. Hanging racks are available in a range of styles and finishes, including wrought iron for a rustic look and stainless steel or chrome for a more modern, minimalist kitchen. Under-Cabinet Lighting Under-cabinet lighting combines style and function. It eliminates glare from overhead lighting in small areas and adds atmosphere and interest. Choose strings of LED lights to provide a welcoming glow around the room, or carefully placed spot lamps to brighten murky work surfaces and gloomy corners. Baker's Rack If you have a spare corner or length of a wall without installed cabinets, a baker's rack is a decorative and practical addition. These impressive pieces of furniture offer a great combination of drawers, shelving, and hooks and can be a useful piece of extra work surface. Use them to display your favorite dishes and pans or your most attractive gadgets and gizmos that you don't want to hide. Wall Art and Pictures Lastly, a kitchen might not be the place you immediately think of for hanging your favorite works of art; however, an extra touch of decoration can make a huge difference in the feel of this essential room. Food is perhaps the most obvious subject matter to use, but try painted scenes of nature to send your décor in a rustic direction, or photographs of cityscapes or pieces of abstract art for a more modern slant.
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 When you’re selling a house, making improvements beforehand can help maximize the home’s value. Even if you have no plans to relocate in the near future, enhancing your living conditions makes sense. Use this information from Remodeling magazine’s annual "Cost vs. Value Report" to get the best return on your investment when you sell. Invest In Exterior Upgrades Improvements to your home’s exterior can pay for themselves by drawing in potential buyers. If you have no plans to sell, they positively change the ambiance of your property and boost curb appeal. Adding manufactured stone veneer increases value the most—up to 95%. This synthetic material installs just like real stone. Upgrading the exterior of a home with low-energy windows and vinyl siding is also a good investment. You can recuperate up to 75% of the cost of this particular home improvement. Replace the Garage Door Upgraded garage doors yield a high return (94%), but you’ve got to choose the correct type. The best garage doors feature durable materials, insulation, and energy-saving finishes. Resilient garage door materials include aluminum, fiberglass, and steel. If you want the look of wood, choose composites, as real wood doesn’t stand up to weather challenges. Add a Deck in Time for Summer Adding a wood deck usually yields a slightly larger return (72%) than composite materials (66%) because the upfront cost is cheaper. But you’ll want to check with your local home improvement center because a wood deck can be more expensive to maintain. When it comes to sizing, keep the square footage relevant to the proportions of the yard and home. Generally, 300 square feet is an ideal size. Regardless of the measurements you choose, make sure to include a railing to enhance safety. Remodel the Kitchen, the Heart of the Home Kitchen remodels rank at the top for homeowners and buyers alike. However, bigger changes aren’t necessarily better. Smaller remodels garner more returns on investments; they can repay up to 27% more compared to major upgrades. Energy-efficient appliances, updated flooring, modern countertops, and upgraded sinks with contemporary faucets make the best improvements. Modernizing the cabinets also allows for good return of costs. If you can’t replace the cupboards, repaint them and add updated hardware. Overhaul the Bathroom Bathroom remodels follow the same guidelines as kitchen renovations. Carefully chosen updates yield larger returns than all-out, upscale remodels. It pays to upgrade counters, fixtures, lighting, tiles, and toilets. You can pick and choose, but it’s a good idea to tackle the oldest items first.  When you work from home, it can be difficult to sustain the same level of focus that you have in the office. Your home is where you relax, play games, and watch movies. All those distractions are within arm’s reach, and it can be difficult to avoid temptation. Follow these tips to remain productive while working from home.
1. Dress for Success It may feel silly to get dressed when you don’t need to leave your house, but spending days on end in your pajamas will impact your ability to be productive. It’s important that you keep your daily routine. You want to continue activities you would normally do if you were heading to work, like taking a shower and getting ready in the morning. After you get dressed, it will be easier to push yourself into work mode. 2. Set Strict Hours Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you don’t need to have consistent work hours. Setting work hours for yourself will keep you on track. Don’t let the day get away from you. Give yourself a regularly scheduled lunch break just like you would have at the office. Maintaining the same work hours you had before you worked from home will help you to retain a sense of normalcy. 3. Set Daily Goals Each morning before you get started, make a list of goals you want to accomplish during your workday. Every time you do a task on your list, cross it out. Having a physical list and being able to cross off goals when you have finished them is very rewarding. Let your to-do list guide your day. The more you are able to cross off your list, the easier it will be to continue working. 4. Take Exercise Breaks If you are finding it difficult to focus, take a break, but don't allow yourself to do anything too fun or relaxing when you’re on a work break. Enjoyable activities will only serve to distract you, but exercising should keep you focused and energized. You don’t need to head to the gym to work out; just pull up a quick exercise routine on your phone and use it to center yourself before you get back on task. 5. Hide Your Phone Unless you use your phone for work, you should turn your phone off until you’ve finished your tasks for the day. Your phone is a huge distraction, and it takes only one text message notification to potentially derail your focus. For the hours when you are working, set your phone aside and keep your focus entirely on your job.  A dirty kitchen may be an eyesore, but it can also be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Here are three tips to maintain a clean kitchen:
Make Your Own Sanitizing Cleaning Spray To kill bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, you need a cleaning agent that effectively disinfects surfaces. Bleach is an excellent choice for this task because it contains hypochlorite, which destroys bacteria. Many commercially produced household cleaners contain bleach, but you can save money by making your own. Combine 1 part bleach to 10 parts water in a large spray bottle—many spray bottles even come with marks on the side to indicate the ratio of the mix. Add a drop of dish soap and you have the perfect disinfectant spray. Sanitize or Replace Your Sponge Often A sponge is the perfect incubator for harmful bacteria because it stays damp, which allows bacteria to multiply. Kill bacteria by microwaving your completely wet sponge for one minute—make sure there aren't any metallic parts. Another way to sanitize your sponge is to place it in the dishwasher and set the machine to dry at the hottest setting and longest run cycle. It's a good idea to replace your kitchen sponges every month. Don't Forget to Hit Overlooked Spots Wiping down countertops with a disinfectant solution is important, but don't forget frequently neglected surfaces. For example, the refrigerator door handle is a prime spot for bacteria—after all, everyone in the house probably touches it once a day. Similarly, your faucet, cupboard handles, and knobs deserve a frequent once-over. If you have a garbage can in your kitchen, don't forget to clean the lid; you can also take the empty can outside, fill it with water and a few squirts of dish soap, rinse, and let it sit in the sun to dry. Get into the habit of giving your kitchen a quick sanitizing wipe down before preparing food and a deeper clean once a week. It could be vital to your health, and it will also keep your kitchen—the heart of your home—sparkling clean and fresh.  Mortgage rates are hitting historic lows. According to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for the week ending July 2 averaged 3.07%; this is the lowest rate ever recorded in the survey's 49-year history. At the same time last year, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.75%. According to Sam Khater, chief economist for Freddie Mac, "On the economic front, incoming data suggest the rebound in economic activity has paused in the last couple of weeks with modest declines in consumer spending and a pullback in purchase activity." All of this suggests that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage could drop below 3% by the end of 2020.
Home Sales Are Down The coronavirus outbreak led to a decline in existing-home sales over the past three consecutive months. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), every sales region in the country experienced drops in both month-over-month and year-over-year sales. "Sales completed in May reflect contract signings in March and April—during the strictest times of the pandemic lockdown and hence the cyclical low point," says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR. As the economy starts up again, Yun expects home sales to increase in the second half of the year. Housing Inventory Falls Below Last Year's Levels By the end of May, there were 1.55 million units available for sale, up 6.2% from a month earlier but down 18.8% from May 2019. At the current sales pace, the housing stock would supply the market for 4.8 months; in comparison, there was a 4-month supply in April and a 4.3-month supply a year ago. Of all the homes sold in May, 58% remained on the market for less than a month. On average, properties remained available for sale for 26 days, unchanged from May 2019. Home Prices Are Up Home sales might have declined, but home prices are still increasing. The median existing-home price increased in every area except the West. This was the 99th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. Yun believes that a boost to new home construction is needed to meet an increase in housing demand; "otherwise, home prices will rise too fast and hinder first-time buyers, even at a time of record-low mortgage rates." Regional Sales Breakdown Northeast: Existing-home sales annual rate of 470,000; a decrease of 13% from April 2020 and 29.9% from May 2019. The median sales price increased 7.8% from May 2019. Midwest: Existing-home sales annual rate of 990,000; a decrease of 10% from April 2020 and 20.2% from May 2019. The median sales price increased 3% from May 2019. South: Existing-home sales annual rate of 1.73 million; a decrease of 8% from April 2020 and 25.1% from May 2019. The median sales price increased 2.1% from May 2019. West: Existing-home sales annual rate of 720,000; a decrease of 11.1% from April 2020 and 35.1% from May 2019. The median sales price decreased 0.2% from May 2019.  In many real estate markets across the United States, home affordability is a major obstacle to homeownership. There's a short supply of entry-level starter homes, and oftentimes, homebuyers are in a crunch looking for a "deal"—a home priced below market value or one that doesn't involve a bidding war to buy. However, not every home that appears to be a deal is one. Here's how to know when a deal isn't a deal.
It Needs a Lot of Work A home that needs a lot of work can be a deal, but only if its expenses are already built into the sales price. For example, a home priced $50,000 below market value because it needs $50,000 of work is fair. But a home priced $20,000 below market value needing $50,000 of work is a bad deal. The seller is asking the buyer to pay over market value, with the costs of repairs considered. Think carefully about buying a house that needs major renovations—the costs often outweigh the savings. Everywhere Becomes a Drive Some homebuyers are willing to sacrifice location for a home they can afford. Living near or far away from a city can sometimes be the difference between being a homeowner and not. But if you've added an hour each way to your work commute, those extra two hours a day spent in your car or on public transportation could get old in a hurry. You might wind up regretting buying a home so far away from your job, your family and friends, your favorite restaurant, or your family doctor. You'll have to decide between dollar savings and the inconvenience of traveling long-distance everywhere. Too Many Compromises Every homebuyer begins a search with a list of expectations and must-haves. Depending on the price, you might be willing to compromise some of the things on your wish list. But compromising on things that are most important to you—the number of bedrooms, a good school district, a crime-free area—could end up being a daily drain on you. Giving up too many of your priorities might not be worth the savings. Affordability is an issue in real estate markets, so finding deals on homes sounds great. But a low price doesn't necessarily equal a deal, and it's helpful to recognize those situations. As a skilled real estate professional, I can help you find the home that best fits your lifestyle. Mortgage rates are at historic lows. Now is a good time to buy or list your home. Contact me today! The houseplants of the 1970s are making a comeback. You can see them hanging in macramé planters from the ceilings of the hippest homes. Their large, dark green leaves make the perfect decorating statement. As an added benefit, they purify the air while giving you more oxygen to breathe in your home.
If you don't have a green thumb, this new trend might make you somewhat nervous. Don't worry. If you choose wisely, you too could successfully raise a plethora of houseplants. Here are some favorite houseplants that don't mind if you have a brown thumb: Snake Plant With its sturdy, thick leaves pointing skyward, the snake plant is one of the easiest to maintain. It thrives on neglect and does well in low-light situations. It is at the top of NASA's list of plants that cleanse the air. Pothos The pothos is another excellent air purifier. This plant grows long, trailing stems that hang lazily over the edges of pots, down bookcases, and along walls. If you forget to water it, it will do just fine. It can live under low or higher lighting. It can even live under fluorescent light, making it perfect for the office. Pothos leaves come in a variety of colors from bright green to darker green to variegated. Spider Plant If you're dying for a plant to put in your bathroom, this is the perfect one. The spider plant loves humidity and is not a fan of direct sunlight. Its thin leaves shoot from the ground like a fountain. A healthy spider plant is easy to propagate: remove the young shoots growing at the end of its leaves and place them in separate pots of soil. Areca Palm This palm, with its green fronds that add height to your space, is the perfect statement for any room. It also prefers indirect light and will tolerate drought. ZZ Plant The ZZ plant is most suitable for the person who has a brown thumb because it thrives on neglect. Not only can it go for long periods without getting water, but it also can survive in extremely low-light situations. Forest-green, oval leaves grow along the length of this plant's stems. If you start your greenery collection with these easy-to-care-for houseplants, you're destined to become a success. Before you know it, you'll be posting pictures of your favorites on Instagram. Selling or buying a home is the biggest decision (and the most expensive) to make. Oftentimes, we are inundated with so many suggestions, recommendations, state statute information and selling requirements as we move forward. However, buying or selling a home at the right time in the market, is often than not, the most lucrative form of investment. When a home is sold at the right time in the market, we can be assured that the rate of return is more, if not thrice the amount of return that any form of investment one will ever have in a lifetime. I know a couple who sold their townhome in a seller's market they bought a few years ago for about $250,000. At the time of sale the property increased in value and had multiple bids, closing the sale at $799,000 - A whopping $549,000 in equity!
This is one of the reasons why hiring a qualified, licensed, and seasoned real estate agent is the most intelligent decision once would make. Selling a home entails not just putting a for sale sign outside the home, and sitting for hours with a smile. Firstly, putting a sign, providing excellent marketing materials, and doing open houses, and private showing, are but the tip of the iceberg. These actions are merely a third of what an experienced real estate agent would do to sell a home. The most important part is excellent marketing, administrative service, and negotiation. An agent's duties is not only marketing the property but also making sure that all state, county and city selling requirements are met. Next, is ensuring that the seller gets a pre-screened and qualified buyer(s). Next, is getting the best and highest offer and strategizing the best way to acquire such a result. Lastly, an agent will also guide you through the intricacies of disclosure laws, and regulations, and closing the transaction escrow smoothly and stress free. How can a qualified real estate agent assist buyers? On the other side of the coin, buying a home has its own complexities and confusing process. Buying a home is not merely walking into an open house, and expressing a desire to purchase a home. It is not as if you're entering a car dealership and merely pointing at a nice car, and sitting with a financial officer or sales man. There are far more complicated steps involved. However, with the assistance of a qualified and experienced real estate agent, a potential buyer/client, can be assured that their contract is "clean' and strong. All the dots are noted, and all the T's are crossed. The agent can hep strategize a winning offer - making recommendations or suggestions in the presentation of the offer. In addition, there may be terms and conditions in the purchase agreement that an ordinary layman may not be aware of. But with the guidance of a qualified real estate agent, there is the assurance that the buyer is protected, or at least made aware of. The qualified real estate agent will also guide the buyer/client through the steps of the buying process. Recommend and/or order the proper reports, and documents. Assist in the disclosures and inspection process. Guide the buyers through the terms of the contract, and if necessary, assist in the negotiations on behalf of the clients. And lastly, ensure a smooth and stress free close of escrow. One valuable piece of advise. Life itself is complicated. There are many things to consider that add nothing but stress and anxieties in one's life. We have a myriad of priorities - at home, work, family, and even with relationships. Buying or selling a home shouldn't be one of them, (notwithstanding, the process of moving to another location). When selling or buying a home, a qualified and experienced real estate agent is the wisest decision one can ever make. The complex process of selling or buying a home can appear easy and stress-free if you acquire the assistance of a qualified agent who's familiar with the local selling or buying requirements. Someone who has years of experience in contract administrations, and perhaps, at times negotiations. Your home is the most expensive investment (and lucrative) you'll ever make. It is both a shelter, and an investment. Allow yourself to be guided by an experienced, and highly skillful real estate professional. An uninformed client often makes haphazard and regretful decisions. When is comes to real estate matters, hiring a qualified and experienced real estate agent is the best decision one will ever make. Henry Kett (an author) once said, “I hesitate not to pronounce, that every man who is his own lawyer, has a fool for a client.” |
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