Home Ownership

April To-Do’s: Home Maintenance Musts

Longer days and warmer temperatures mean it’s time to seize the opportunity to get outside and accomplish those outdoor chores. Here’s a to-do list to get you motivated....

If you haven’t already, it’s time to prep the lawn and garden beds for spring and summer. Apply fertilizer and weed control and clear any remaining leaves and debris.
Perform a lawn gear inventory. Get the lawnmower blade sharpened and check the weed eater and hedge trimmer. If necessary, have them serviced.
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, have it serviced and turned on for the season.
If you plan to plant a summer vegetable garden, check with local experts for the last freeze date in your area, and then let the planting begin.
Check outdoor screens on windows and doors and replace or repair any damage. Also, check windows to make sure they open and shut properly.
After those last pesky leaves have fallen, schedule gutters and downspouts to be cleaned.
Give your potted plants a little TLC. Pull out dead plants and replace potting soil before planting for the spring and summer seasons.
Inspect your driveway, sidewalks, patios, and pathways for cracks or other damage caused by harsh winter weather. Call to schedule maintenance or repairs.
Inventory your front porch, back patio and other outdoor entertainment areas. Clean, repair or replace seating areas, cushions, and lighting, so you’re ready to host family and friends.
Replace air conditioning filters and schedule routine maintenance on your cooling system to prevent a major breakdown during the hottest months.
For procrastinators, take advantage of a rainy day and finish your tax returns prior to the IRS filing deadline so extensions aren’t necessary.

Money, Mortgage,

Advancements in the Mortgage Application Process

Today’s mortgage application process is sleek and efficient. If you ever applied for a mortgage in the bad-old paperwork days, today’s mortgage process is a dream. Gone are thick file folders with reams of forms and intimidating conversations with a loan underwriter, not to mention waiting weeks for approval. Here’s a look at some modern improvements....

The online (and on-time) mortgage application

The most obvious change is not so recent. For a decade or more, mortgages have been applied for entirely online. The application is an online form, and the required documents must be uploaded as PDFs. You sign the application digitally. This saves time from writing applications by hand, copying financial statements, and delivering them to the mortgage company. Online updates save time spent on the phone....

Nowadays, you can track the loan status from your computer or smartphone. Notifications pop up by text or email, keeping you informed of the process....

Faster decisions

After the mortgage application and supporting documents are submitted, automation assists the underwriter in handling your file and making a decision. Algorithms correlate and analyze credit scores, employment history, and other factors to perform an underwriting risk assessment for the loan. It is faster and unbiased, eliminating the potential for human judgment error....

Borrowers are notified via automated texts or email of any additional documents needed, when the loan is in process, and of other steps along the way. Online representatives or AI agents can field customer inquiries via a chatbox. ...

Is it safe?

One question that might arise is whether the mortgage application process is secure against hackers seeking to steal your sensitive financial information. While you can never say never, financial institutions invest millions in cybersecurity to protect their customers. Robust encryption, strong passwords, and verification codes help keep your sensitive data secure....

Building a Home, Buying,

Are Home Wellness Features Worth It? Explore Costs, Benefits, and Resale Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked interest in home wellness amid a surge in remodeling and new-home construction. A significant number of Americans began adding in-home health and wellness facilities. From weight rooms to saunas, cold plunges, and red light therapy, wellness self-care can now be as close as the next room....

Why home wellness rooms are more than a passing trend

These features have gained traction in the building industry and are not considered luxury amenities. Industry analysts say these types of home upgrades are among the fastest-growing trends in residential construction. ...

Here are some of the most popular amenities in home wellness care and the expected costs:...

Saunas and spas, both traditional and infrared, provide muscle recovery after a good workout, not to mention skincare benefits. Plus, there is a social benefit, as family and neighbors relax together. Expect to pay $3,000 to $15,000, depending on quality and features selected.
Home gyms typically include resistance training equipment, cardio equipment such as treadmills and stair climbers, and digital workout mirrors. A well-outfitted gym can start at $5,000 and top out at $20,000.
New to wellness amenities are cold plunges and red light therapy. Cold plunges tout benefits for muscle recovery and vitality, while red light therapy offers a unique approach to skincare. You’ll need plumbing to fill and drain your tub, so these amenities can run up to $6,000.

Do home wellness amenities increase property value?

Wellness amenities are particularly popular in the coastal states of the West and South, although New York is also a top destination. Up to 20% of homeowners say having home wellness amenities is important. Homes equipped with wellness upgrades can command higher prices upon resale....

Indoor Living, Ownership,

Natural Elements Take Center Stage in Today’s Home Furnishings and Decor

Lately, homeowners and interior designers are incorporating darker wood and stone materials to provide visual warmth and a tactile connection to natural elements. These natural elements are not only gorgeous but are also durable and sustainable, aligning with other important building trends. ...

Visually warming woods

An example of a natural element is burl wood. With its distinctive swirling grain and unique patterns, it has become a sought-after material for cabinets, paneling, and furniture. Burl is so distinctive and eye-catching that homeowners know they’ll achieve an unparalleled look of luxury. ...

Other dark-toned natural woods surging in popularity are walnut, mahogany, and ebony. These elegant woods offer a depth and richness that lighter woods can’t match, creating a sense of sophistication and intimacy. They are used for wide-plank flooring, custom cabinetry, and soaring ceiling beams, often paired with lighter walls and furnishings. Sometimes a table may be cut as a single slice from a whole tree trunk. ...

Rocking natural elements

Natural stone counters have been popular for over 20 years, and now stone is taking prominence in flooring and even on accent walls. Marble, granite, slate, and other types are gracing homes like never before. New stone-finishing techniques offer a range of looks, making stone versatile for both modern and traditional homes....

A buzzword consumers may hear in relation to these materials is “biophilic,” a philosophy of creating a living environment in which people feel connected to natural elements. Similar to the Scandinavian concept of hygge, biophilic home settings foster calmness and restoration....

Consumers can view these natural trends as an extension of earlier growth in stone counters and fine wood furniture, now expanding to other home surfaces to create surroundings of sensual delight....

Home Improvements, Outdoor Living, Ownership,

Hiring the Pros to Organize Your Garage

A professional garage makeover can transform the most neglected part of a home into a thing of beauty. But is it worth the hefty price tag?...

With a quick trip to a big box store, a do-it-yourself organizing system will get a homeowner’s belongings off the floor with snap-together shelves and wall hangers. But a professional will install cabinets and high-grade shelves that get most of your stuff not just off the floor, but completely out of sight. Add to that an epoxy floor coating, and your garage may start to look better than many rooms in your house....

Components of professional systems. The main objective of any garage organizer is to get everything off of the floor. This assumes that as a prerequisite, you have sorted your stuff, then trashed, donated or sold everything you don’t need. With what is left, your plan should be to have virtually nothing touching the garage floor except the tires of your car....

Professionally installed garage organizing systems will contain these components:...

Cabinets will get most items onto shelves, and closed off from view. Cabinets for the garage come in every shape, size and color, made from wood, metal or laminated particle board.
Open shelving is for smaller items you use frequently, such as hand tools. Often these shelves will be used over a workbench in combination with a pegboard for hanging small items.
Overhead storage is for boxes and bulky items that would take up too much space in cabinets.
Strong hooks are used to hang bicycles, large sporting goods, and landscape equipment such as weed whackers and leaf blowers.
An epoxy floor coating, in a color of your choosing, will give the floor a finished look similar to a high-end auto repair shop. The epoxy resists the black marks left by the hot tires of your car when you pull in. There are also heavy duty floor mats that can be cut to fit the floor space, but at a higher cost.
Enhanced lighting will make one of the most dimly lit rooms bright and functional. When working with small projects at your workbench, you’ll be able to see detailed tasks clearly.

As with anything else, organize to a level that your budget allows. Professional garage makeovers start at under $1,000 and can go more than $3,000, depending on how elaborate. Cabinets tend to be the largest expense along with epoxy coating the floor. Lower your expenses by purchasing and installing cabinets, shelves and wall systems yourself, and hiring out the epoxy coating job, which requires multiple steps to be done properly....

Building a Home, Buying,

Is It Ever Smart to Build the Biggest or Smallest House in the Neighborhood?

When you are thinking about building a new house you may face a dilemma: Should I build the biggest home in the subdivision? Or, what about the smallest?...

Once you’ve decided how much space you need and can afford, if the house you are considering would be the smallest or the largest in a neighborhood, then you have to be mindful of the potential outcome when you are ready to sell it. If you intend to stay in the house many years, you may not be as concerned about this. However, you may need to move sooner than you previously thought so being prepared is important....

The biggest house. When you build the biggest house, assuming that size alone puts you at the top of pricing in the neighborhood, you will have less room to grow in appreciation versus a smaller home. Any improvements you make will provide less return. It is possible to over build, and out price the neighborhood....

The smallest house. If your household size dictates the need for a smaller house, it could work to your advantage in future valuation. You will have more room to appreciate underneath the price cap set by the larger homes. Additionally, any future improvements increase the value proportionately. One exception here would be if smaller means only two bedrooms or some other floor plan limitation that would give most buyers pause. One more factor to consider: In recent years, the trend has been toward smaller homes, as Gen X’ers and millennials drive the market....

The middle ground. Houses in the middle of the spectrum offer more versatility. The smallest house will appeal to a smaller slice of consumers, such as singles, young couples with no kids, or empty nesters. Larger houses appeal to other, rather limited segments of the market. By contrast the mid-sized home appeals to a broader group of buyers, garnering more demand and better appreciation. If your household needs can be met in the middle, your future resale prospects are probably brighter....

Outdoor Living, Ownership,

It’s Game Time: Building a Backyard Sports Court

Home sports courts provide great fun and exercise, but are they a wise investment? While the kids may overwhelmingly approve, a future buyer may not agree. Here’s a quick play-by-play of what’s involved, how much it will cost and the return on investment....

Types of courts. The most common types of courts are for basketball and tennis. Some courts double for both, with a basketball goal on the side and markings for both sports. Such courts can also be used for volleyball, badminton, shuffleboard and hockey....

Surfaces. A court’s foundation can be made of asphalt, concrete or compacted material such as fragmented concrete. A sports modular surface can be laid upon these foundations. Asphalt has less durability and will need repairs more often. Concrete will last many decades. Both of these surfaces require heavy equipment for installation and both create a barrier preventing rainwater from reaching the ground beneath, resulting in standing puddles. Removal would be difficult. Compacted material requires less in the way of equipment and is permeable....

A modular sports surface laid on top of concrete, asphalt or compacted material will absorb shock and minimize injuries, particularly when placed upon compacted material. It is portable should you decide to remove it from the base....

Space requirements. The space for a home court must be big enough for the court itself — plus adequate buffer between your property and the neighbors. Check your deed restrictions. You also don’t want to crowd the house, deck or patio. The land should be level....

Landscaping changes. Consider how the sports court will alter your landscaping and drainage. Will you have to remove trees to install the court? Not only will this add to your costs, but also consider the loss of shade to the area and the aesthetic value sacrificed....

How will a court alter the flow of drainage from rain and irrigation runoff? Check with your local government officials about rules and regulations concerning water runoff. Many local governments require a certain percentage of the land to be permeable....

Finally, the space must be accessible to installation crews with earth-moving equipment. If the area is fenced, this may require temporary removal of fence panels....

Seek approvals. Seek the proper permits from local authorities and your homeowners association, if you have one. A detailed design plan will likely be required along with permitting fees....

Cost. On the low end, a simple half basketball court starts at $7,000. On the upper end, a multi-use court big enough for tennis, will cost tens of thousands of dollars....

Pros and cons. A sports court would no doubt encourage your children to become active outdoors and be a drawing card for friends and neighbors. It also would be a great convenience for athletes in the family needing extra training time. But it’s also important to think about how the courts will affect your neighbors. Will they be bothered by the noise? Will the drainage or aesthetics of their property be compromised? And what about the age of your children? Will you use the courts after your kids are grown and gone? And finally, how would a sports court influence the resale value of your home? You would likely get less than a 50 percent return on your investment — and it might even hinder a sale. Similar to a pool, a home sports court would limit your home’s appeal to a narrow subset of buyers. If a buyer wanted it removed, the cost could be a deal killer....

Indoor Living, Ownership,

Creating a Great Room for Kids to Share

When siblings share a bedroom, every little bit of space counts. So what can a frazzled parent do? We’ve got you covered with this handy list of tips to ease sibling rivalry and create a harmonious space that your kids will love....

Meeting of the minds. If your children are old enough to participate in the design process, invite them to a family meeting to discuss options for the shared space. Ask them for their likes and dislikes and identify common ground. Make sure each child feels like he or she has had input....

Divide the space. If privacy is an issue, create a temporary room divider, such as a curtain hanging from the ceiling, to divvy up the space. Younger children may like a bed tent or a draped canopy. A bookshelf can be a great space divider as well while also providing needed extra storage. (Make sure it’s secured for safety.)...

Coordinate styles. Matching bed linens are not a requirement, but it’s best to use colors from the same color palette. Elements that continue across the space, like a bunting or artwork, help to unify the space and harmonize elements that don’t go together on their own....

Types of beds. Depending on the ages of your children, choose among bunk beds, trundle beds, and twin beds. Also consider the best way to arrange the beds: side-by-side, foot-to-foot, or at a 90-degree angle. Some parents place beds on casters for easy movement around the room....

Nooks and crannies. Utilize corners, alcoves, and the wall space underneath windows to place furniture and storage. Will one nightstand with a drawer for each occupant suffice? Can an extra dresser be placed in a closet? Consider floating shelves on walls, hooks, and under-bed storage solutions....

Investment, Money,

How to Develop Your Own Land

If you own raw undeveloped acreage, the land may be your route to financial security. Subdividing residential lots or owning commercial buildings can put you on the path to prosperity. Land development, however, is a complex venture. Take a look....

Details count. You may already own the land, but to develop it you will need to convince other people that you have a reasonable plan and chance of success. Do a feasibility study describing what you propose to do with the land, the supply and demand for your offering, and why you think you can be successful. Among the people you will need to persuade:...

Potential investors, if outside financing is needed. This includes bankers if you are borrowing money.
Lawyers, who will help form a legal entity under which you will operate the development, help you with construction contracts, steer you through the maze of governmental authorities that have a say-so on your land use.
Engineers and architects, who will design and blueprint every aspect of the construction.
Utility commissioners, who must approve plans for water, gas, electric and wastewater lines.
Builders and construction companies that will survey, grade and pave the land, and construct the buildings.
Real estate brokers, who will bring you buyers.
Marketing people to tell the world about your new development.
Environmental analysts, if the state in which you are doing business has concerns about how your development will affect the environment.
Traffic engineers, if the size of your development will lead to increased traffic.
Considerable financial resources are required to navigate all of these aspects of the development process, since you will be spending considerable amounts of money long before the lots begin to sell in your residential development or the business spaces lease in your shopping center.

One fundamental rule of real estate investing: Don’t accept a negative cash flow situation. In the case of owning raw land, if it is not producing income in some way, it is a drain, even if it ultimately appreciates in value. Developing the land will generate cash flow and leverage the increase in value, because you’ve made the land more useful and valuable....

Home Improvements, Ownership,

Keeping Your House Dry In All the Right Places

Throughout your house, key construction materials — things like flashing and weather stripping — work to keep rain and moisture from coming inside. As a homeowner, it’s your job to keep those materials well maintained to protect the integrity of your home. Here’s what you need to know....

Roof. The roof has plywood decking, or more likely now, a thermal board that serves as both a temperature buffer and moisture barrier. If plywood is used, then a tarpaper-type of covering is attached upon which the final shingles are installed....

Flashing. Used in places where the lines of the roof diverge, a galvanized steel trim keeps rain out....

Walls. Around the frame walls of the house, a wrap known as an envelope is installed that serves as both a moisture barrier and thermal buffer. This material is essential for keeping moisture from penetrating the walls due to humidity and temperature differences. If masonry is the outside cover, then weep holes will be placed at the bottom every few feet to allow any moisture that forms in the walls to drain out....

Weather stripping. Your windows should be tight and well caulked around the window frame. The movable part of the window, called the sash, will have rubber stripping around it to keep air and water outside. Doors also have weather stripping at the bottom edge and around the door frame for the same purpose....

Plumbing. Plumbing should have tight joints, and a wrap of insulation where it runs through outside walls. If you ever have a water leak in your home, plumbing or the roof will be the most likely culprits....

What can you do? There are steps you can take to keep your home dry in the right places. When buying a home, even a new one, have the home professionally inspected. This will provide an overall review of construction quality, including roofing and plumbing. Once you are in the home, periodically check around window sills after hard rains. When driving nails into a wall, be mindful of whether plumbing is inside. Be sure to winterize outside faucets with good insulation wrap when the cold season begins....

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