Home Ownership

Checklist: April To-Dos for Homeowners

Everyone is stressed and anxious about the COVID-19 crisis, but one positive to staying at home is the number of chores you can check off your list. Spring showers and increasingly warmer temperatures signal the beginning of April — a great month to prepare for gardening and summer living....

Inspect for animal intruders. Just like humans, animals seek warmth in winter so look for evidence of squirrels, raccoons, rats and possums that may have clawed or chewed a hole in the roof flashing to access your attic. If you find evidence of invaders, call a professional wildlife removal service. They are considered essential home services in most states.
Trim tree limbs. Survey trees near your house for limbs growing too close to the roof or siding. Hire a professional arborist, if limbs are too high, extremely heavy, or near power lines. Landscaping professionals are also on the list of essential services in many states so they are still available for hire.
Organize and clean the garage and shed. Clean and organize spring and summer gardening tools and toys. Encourage family members to put belongings away in their proper locations.
Eliminate mosquito breeding areas. Melting snow and spring rains may leave puddles around your yard or in landscape decorations. Remove standing water to discourage mosquitos.
Check for wood-destroying insects, such as carpenter ants and termites, which can damage your home. Carpenter ants are relatively easy to spot outside, entering your home through small openings. Look for the mud tubes left behind by termites. If spotted, call a pest control professional, they too should be available to treat outside the home.
Time for an AC inspection. The hot summer is right around the corner, so it’s time to have your air-conditioning system professionally inspected. A service technician will inspect the air handler, clean the air conditioner condenser coils, inspect the evaporator coil and check the refrigerant level. Depending on where you call home, this chore can be done in April, May or June, so you may decide to wait until the stringent social distancing guidelines are lifted. Meanwhile, do your part to keep the AC system running smoothly. Change the filters on a regular schedule. Outside, keep bushes cut back from the condenser coils so they can breathe.
Inspect the sprinkler system. Turn on the system and inspect as it switches from zone to zone. Check for damaged sprinkler heads. Replace or adjust as needed.
Gardening goals. In March or April, depending on your climate, it’s time to start thinking about a spring and summer garden. Clear raised planting beds of debris, and turn soil. Most seeds and plants can be purchased online. Start seedlings inside. Do not plant until after the last frost date in your area.
Provide nutrients for your landscape. Depending on your climate zone, March or April is the time to apply fertilizer and weed control. Consult local agricultural extension services online for gardening expertise.
Spring clean. On a warm day in April or May, open up the windows and air out your home. Clean carpets, upholstered furniture and fabric window treatments. Vacuum window blinds and behind large furniture pieces. If you haven’t already, clean windows and repair any broken screens. The kids may actually enjoy helping with the lower level!

Indoor Living, Ownership,

Lighter, Brighter and Simpler are Today’s Buzzwords in Home Design

With homes trending smaller, today’s houses are being built with cleaner lines and styles to emphasize the open concept. Detailed trim work and dark stains are out; light colors and simpler styles are in. Let’s look at six of the latest trends....

Cabinets. Painted cabinets in bright colors with straight, simple lines are in vogue. The cabinets may be white from top to bottom, or have the “tuxedo look,” with one color of cabinets above and a complimenting color for the lower set. Detailed router work on cabinets and ornate handles have given way to straight lines and simple pulls. Also gaining in popularity is the open-shelving concept rather than cabinetry. This look is usually coupled with white subway tile....

Counters. After a long, popular run, dark patterned granite is giving way to lighter, brighter quartz surfaces in both kitchens and baths. Edges are straight, simple and clean. Decorations on the counter are minimal. Small appliance garages keep the mixer and toaster out of sight for a cleaner and less cluttered effect....

Floors. Hardwood is still in fashion, but the trend is toward wider planks, darker stains and a slightly roughed-up look. Laminates and engineered floor materials are stronger and in some cases less expensive than hardwoods. Having a continuous floor from kitchen to dining to living room ties the entire living space together. In carpeted areas, new advances in fibers make carpet silky soft....

Walls. Some version of beige has been the “play it safe” builder standard for decades because it is neutral, but today’s homes are being painted in varying shades of gray or a blend of beige and gray. Call it “greige.”...

Appliances. Smart phone technology has influenced appliance designs. Stove tops using touch screen technology allow you to turn on and set heat levels with a finger swipe. Having no knobs furthers the uncluttered look. Refrigerator surfaces have matte finishes, even in white, that resemble your cell phone’s back cover. Also in matted finishes are stainless steel stove and oven fronts. Swinging French doors on the oven eliminate the old single door that cuts off walking space....

Bathrooms simplified. Little-used garden tubs are out, along with the ornate trim flourishes. Instead, consumers want bigger showers with seating, large custom tile, multiple shower heads and frameless doors. Cabinets and counters follow the trend of kitchens with brighter looks and simple lines....

Indoor Living, Ownership,

7 Easy Steps to Improving Your Home’s Color Palette

Color schemes can make your home look hopelessly dated or vibrantly on trend. But how do you know which colors are in and which are out? Here are seven tips to best choose a modern color palette....

1. Color palette dictates ambiance.

Consider the room, how you want to feel, and what you will be doing in the room. Lighter colors reflect light, making the space seem open and airy. Dark paint colors absorb light, making a room feel more closed in. Bright colors evoke excitement and alertness, while subdued or neutral colors bring feelings of relaxation and calm....

2. Stay away from white!

Glaring white walls are – blessedly – a thing of the past, and so is the 1990s “builder’s beige.” However, doors, door casings, and other moldings should be a crisp, glossy white....

3. Make a neutral backdrop.

The best choices are the new beige or grey tones, or a trendy combination known as “greige”. Then layer one or two contrasting colors with furnishings and art. Even colors with an undertone of brown or grey in soft, muted tones can look neutral – while still adding a touch of color. Neutrals like this are always preferable when staging to sell....

4. Ditch the 80s and 90s.

Also avoid The 1980s neons and pastels, Southwestern palettes (lots of turquoise and mauve), and Day-Glo everywhere (think pink, yellow, teal, and purple). The 1990s introduced forest green, deep reds and golds, and earthy tones. However, modern color palettes prefer soft, muted tones more than vibrant, staying away from anything too saturated or primary-hued....

5. Patterns or not?

Today’s focal walls are more than just a bold paint color. Patterns can be dramatic or subtle, depending on the level of contrast. Bold patterns exude energy, while tone-on-tone quietly hints at a pattern’s existence. For a modern color palette when staging, use patterns as a subtle backdrop, rather than a screaming neon green and turquoise chevron....

6. Where to go bold.

Kitchens can often boast a brighter, bolder paint on the walls, primarily because they have little wall space. Bonus rooms or playrooms also carry bright wall colors well, giving them an energetic vibe. Finally, guest and children’s bathrooms are another place to experiment with bold colors....

7. Go monochromatic.

Monochromatic color schemes never go out of style. The most successful way to create a tone-on-tone scheme starts with selecting your wall color. Paint small pieces of furniture in the shades just lighter and darker on the same spectrum. Take those colors onto your furnishings with curtains, bedding, throw blankets, and upholstery in that same color family. This soothing look is easy on the eye and works well in bedrooms....

Home Energy, Ownership,

Understanding Different LED Light Colors

LED lights have revolutionized lighting, replacing old incandescent and fluorescent bulbs and saving energy. Understanding the various LED light colors, however, can be confusing. Let’s illuminate the differences....

LED savings

Lighting is measured by two metrics: lumens and watts. Lumens measure a bulb’s light output, and watts are the measure of electricity needed to generate that output. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulb uses only 20 percent of the electricity that an incandescent bulb does to produce the same lumens — a big cost and energy savings....

Warm to cool

LED light bulbs come in warm white, natural white and cool white. What do these names mean, and how are the various colors best used in your home?...

Lighting power is described on LED bulb packages with a number shown in thousands followed by the letter “K,” which stands for kelvins, the unit used for measuring light temperature. The tone of the light from a bulb covers a temperature scale from “warm” light, with a slight amber tint, to “cool,” with a brighter white tint. The higher the number before the K, the brighter and cooler the light....

A 2700K bulb, for example, will cast a warm look, making for a more relaxing setting. A kelvin range at or above 5000K means light from the bulb will be bright, cool and possibly harsh. At the midrange of the kelvin spectrum is natural lighting, with a kelvin rating of around 3500K....

Location determines light temperature

Bulbs in the lower-kelvin range work best in most of the house, from living areas to bedrooms. Lighting can affect your mood, so a warm look invites relaxing in these rooms. Lower-kelvin bulbs are closest to the old incandescent “soft white” lighting....

Higher-kelvin cool lighting is best for work areas such as the laundry room, garage and workrooms. This lighting brings out detail and color in a room. Most commercial offices use cool lighting, so it also makes sense for task-oriented residential rooms....

The décor of a room can also play a role in your lighting selection. Areas with rich wood floors and furniture benefit from warm lighting. Rooms with lots of white might look best with midrange natural lighting. The highest cool white bulbs, however, could make mostly white rooms look stark or even harsh....

Some LED lights can also be used with dimmer switches, allowing you to raise or lower the bulb’s light output and fine-tune the mood....

Lighting in other home settings

For lighting outdoor areas for relaxing, such as a deck or patio, use warm or natural light. For perimeter lighting, such as security lights, go with higher-kelvin cool lighting....

Related – Should I Switch to LED Light Bulbs?...

Selling, Selling Your Home,

The Tax Benefit of Selling Your Home

The tax advantages of buying and owning a home are well known, but what happens when you sell? Read on to learn about the tax benefit you may accrue when you sell your house....

Rules affecting capital gains taxes

Most tax benefits available for home sellers relate to how any profit, or capital gain, you make on the sale of the house is taxed. If you meet certain criteria, some or all of that gain will be shielded from capital gains taxes, which can run as high as 20 percent....

Homeowners are eligible for this very nice tax benefit If they have owned the house for at least two years and lived in it for at least two of the last five years. Taxpayers who meet these criteria and file as individuals can exclude $250,000 of their gain from capital gains taxes. For married couples filing jointly, the exclusion is $500,000....

Calculating the home’s tax basis

To determine your capital gain on a home sale, you must first calculate your basis in the house. A home’s basis is the price paid for the home plus the cost of certain capital expenditures invested in the property. The IRS defines eligible capital expenditures as work that materially improves the value of a home, substantially extends the house’s life, or adapts the house to another usage. The price at which the home is sold minus the basis is the capital gain on the sale....

Be aware that the IRS may not view some of the work you’ve done on your home to be a capital expenditure eligible to be added to your house’s basis even where you believe it increased the value or longevity of the property. This holds true even if you undertook these projects just before selling. For example, the IRS will not allow taxpayers to increase their home’s basis by the cost of painting, repairing part of a damaged roof, cleaning the carpet or replacing plumbing with identical materials....

Another tax benefit relates to the transactional expenses of selling your home. The IRS allows sellers to reduce their capital gain by the amount of the real estate commission you paid, any fees paid at closing, and the like....

The tax benefit of homeownership

Don’t forget that any interest you pay on your mortgage in the year you sell your home counts as a tax deduction for that year. The new tax law has limited the deductibility of mortgage interest; for homes purchased after December 14, 2017, the amount of mortgage subject to this tax benefit is capped at $750,000. You can also deduct property taxes you paid up in the sales year up to the date of closing the sale, subject to a $10,000 limit on state property, sales, and income taxes....

Home Improvements,

Checklist: Spring To-Dos for Homeowners

That winter chill is retreating, and the prospect of warm Spring weather is no longer a distant dream. Get your house and yard ready with these 10 maintenance musts....

1. Schedule a Spring air conditioning check

Be proactive. Spring is a great time to hire a professional to inspect the air handler, clean the condenser coils, inspect the evaporator coil and check the refrigerant level....

2. Inspect the roof

Once the ice and snow have melted, check the roof for damage. Look for cracked shingles and loose flashing, especially behind chimneys and in valleys. If the gutters filled with ice, the weight may have pulled them loose from fascia board mounts, so inspect and secure them as needed. Hire a pro if this is beyond your skill level or you’re afraid of heights....

3. Look for attic leaks

Inspect the underside of the roof decking in the attic for signs of water seepage. Ice can penetrate damaged shingles, and cause a leak in the attic upon melting. Call a roofer if you find damage....

4. Inspect for animal intruders

Squirrels, raccoons, rats, and possums may have invaded your attic to escape the winter chill. Look for nests, often made in the insulation. Call a licensed wildlife removal professional if you find evidence of animal trespassers....

5. Relocate firewood

If you have firewood in the yard, move the pile several yards from the house. A woodpile attracts termites, carpenter ants, skunks and possums when the weather warms up so keep it as far away from the house as possible....

6. Clean the windows

Remove the dirt and grime of winter from windows with a good cleaning, allowing that gorgeous spring sunshine to fill your rooms....

7. Ward off an Spring insect invasion

Remove any standing water around the property to limit the spread of mosquitoes. Call a pest control professional to inspect for wood-destroying insects such as carpenter ants and termites that can damage your home. This is not a do-it-yourself job....

8. Nourish your landscape for Spring

Depending on your climate, apply fertilizer and weed-control treatment in March or April. Consult local garden stores for timing and best products. After the last frost, add colorful annuals with a layer of mulch to rejuvenate your flower beds....

9. Get ready for outdoor relaxation

It’s time to fire up the grill. Wipe down the hood, knobs and handles with a mix of vinegar and water. Stock up on propane or charcoal. Scrub the grill grates to get them ready for the first cookout. Check gas burners to make sure no creatures have made nests inside over the winter....

10. Start up the lawn equipment

Soon the lawn will need mowing and edging. Fill the gas tanks and oil reservoirs of your mower and trimmer. Make sure the mower blade is sharp and the weed eater has plenty of the proper-size line. Start each and give them their first workout of the season. Start the leaf blower and clear off the drive and walkways....

Related – Removing Wild Animals from Your Home...

Buying, Buying a Home,

Checklist for Getting Started In Your New Home

Closing on a new home may feel like reaching the finish line. But before you kick back and relax, take these important steps to settle into your new place....

Matters to take care of before closing

After you sign a contract to buy a new home, ask the seller for a report on a year’s worth of utility costs, month by month, as well as the names of the electric, water, trash collection and gas providers. Contact these utilities to arrange for switching the utilities into accounts set up in your name beginning the day you close. Make these contacts at least a week before closing to ensure a seamless transition.
If your new home is in a rural area and has a water well, septic system and propane gas, get the names and contact info of the vendors who service these utilities. Request a condition report and set up needed service.
Don’t forget your telephone, internet, and cable or satellite service. Call a week before closing and set a date for the technician to come set up your service.
Go online to the U.S. Postal Service and change your address effective the date of your closing. The postal service will direct all mail from your former home to your new one for a year. During that time, notify all of your sources of mail individually of your new address. Setting up paperless statements with a bank, investment, insurance, and other accounts reduces paper and eliminates the worry that sensitive personal information gets mailed to your old address.

Locks and codes

After getting the keys from your seller at closing, consider having locks rekeyed or replaced, resetting codes on keypads, changing the signal on the garage door opener and even outfitting your home with a new smart home security system you can operate from your phone....

Have the floors cleaned

The sellers probably had your new home thoroughly cleaned before putting it on the market. But since then, countless real estate agents, prospective buyers, contractors, and movers have marched through the place. Before you bring your furniture in, hire a carpet, tile, and hardwood floor cleaner to get the dirt out. If hardwood floors require refinishing, take care of that task before you move furniture in....

Have your new home treated for pests

Your previous residence may have been free of bugs, but you don’t know what kind of creepy crawlies may lurk in your new abode. So before you move in, have an exterminator service the house and set up a maintenance contract....

Set up maintenance for your HVAC system

You probably had your new home’s heating and air conditioning systems inspected during the contract period. Now set up an annual checkup and service agreement with a solid HVAC service company to keep the system in optimal shape....

The grass doesn’t wait

As you juggled the details of your move, the landscape at your new home continued to grow. You’ll need to mow and trim once you move in, or perhaps hire a service to at least temporarily take these tasks off your hands....

Related – Do-It-Yourself Packing and Moving...

Marketing The Home, Selling,

“For Sale By Owner?” Can You Do the Job of a Pro?

Putting out a “For Sale By Owner” sign is tempting. You certainly cannot be blamed for wondering if you could do it all yourself. It’s not impossible, but it may be a bigger job than you realize. Before taking it on, here are six issues to seriously consider....

Agents are home-marketing specialists

First and foremost, agents can list your home on the network known as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), where all agents search for homes for prospective buyers. Think of the MLS as the superhighway for marketing homes — a listing there will reach far more potential buyers than a “For Sale By Owner” sign in your yard. The only way to get listed on the MLS is through a licensed real estate agent. Additionally, agents have been trained in how to show a home and guide prospective buyers through a home’s top selling features. Finally, an agent can perform a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of your home in relation to neighboring properties, which will help you determine an appropriate asking price for your home....

As technology has grown more sophisticated and buyers increasingly want to shop for homes from the comfort of their living room, the demand for top-quality video tours has grown. It’s possible a buyer will purchase a house without ever setting foot inside it following a video viewing. Pulling off an excellent home video tour is a technical production best handled by pros that know how to make your home the star of the show....

Bringing qualified buyers

When you try selling by owner, prospective buyers may call and email or just stop by, no matter how clearly you state in an ad or flyer that your home is “Shown by appointment only.” Browsers may knock and ask if they can see your home when your house isn’t prepared to be shown. Likewise, these buyers may themselves be unprepared, having not yet spoken with a mortgage company about pre approval. If a drop-in buyer doesn’t yet know if he can afford your home, he’s wasting your time....

A trained agent will bring only those prospective buyers who are looking for homes similar to yours at a price they can afford....

Expert negotiators

You may feel confident in your negotiation skills, but they aren’t likely to be specific to real estate deals. Real estate agents make their living negotiating the best deals for their clients. Tell them what you need for your home sale and that’s what they use their expertise to accomplish....

Contracts, closings and legal issues of a FSBO

How often have you dealt with real estate contracts? Real estate salespeople deal with them daily. The home sales contract contains several pages of dense legal language divided into many sections and subjects. One misstep could cost you a lot of money or time, yet many FSBO sellers get confused by what to fill into each blank and what this or that clause means. Although agents aren’t typically lawyers and aren’t qualified to give legal advice, they are familiar with each section of the contract, how to fill it out and how to best navigate your deal to a successful closing. They can also help sellers interpret the real estate jargon and legalese that goes along with selling a property. For instance, an agent can be depended upon to explain issues of title transfer and any mandatory disclosure laws. Agents also help keep sellers from inadvertently violating civil rights and fair housing laws when advertising....

The finish line

Once a contract is signed, the buyer’s lender will send an appraiser to your home. The buyer will probably have the house inspected. You may be required to hire contractors to make repairs. Your agent should prepare you for these steps and help you interact with the seller, navigating the deal to a successful closing....

Price considerations of a “For Sale by Owner”

You may primarily be interested in selling without an agent because you think you’ll save money on her commission. But research shows you may net less money overall if you go it alone. Sellers who use an agent typically sell for a price about 6 percent higher than FSBOs. The reason is that by listing your home on the MLS, the agent can bring in many more buyers, which can lead to more offers and even a bidding war....

Related – How to Hire the Right Listing Agent...

Ownership, Saving Tips, Shopping Guides,

A Calendar for Shoppers: April’s Best Buys

It’s April, which means it’s a great time for spring cleaning, gardening, home repairs, and let’s not forget, pressing the button on those last-minute tax documents that could yield a refund large enough to make a few purchases for the home. Retailers are ready with sales in all the right categories....

Home and garden

Expect seasonal discounts on plants and garden equipment, paint, tools and home repair supplies as DIYers venture outside to get their homes in shape. Ditto for outdoor grills, patio furniture and lawn mowers. You’ll typically find the best selection March through May....

Laptop time

With the April 15 tax deadline looming, many consumers purchase new laptops to file their taxes — or treat themselves to a new electronic gadget with refund money. Retailers know this and often offer attractive discounts....

TV time

Expect sales and discounts on high-definition televisions, blu-ray players, surround sound speakers, and other entertainment equipment to lure consumers with tax refunds in hand....

Office furniture

Retailers often offer sales on office furniture and printers alongside tax software....

Spring cleaners

Watch for sales to help you get the spring cleaning done more efficiently. Vacuum cleaners and pressure washers, for example, typically go on sale in April and May....

Shop smart

Before making any major purchase, do your homework. Consumer advocacy groups, websites and magazines such as Consumer Reports, Wise Bread, Nerd Wallet, and Money, regularly publish buying guides and tips....

Indoor Living, Ownership,

How to Clean Your Home with Air Purifying Plants

Did you know plants can help eliminate allergens and toxins in your home? Here’s how to put your greenery to work purifying the air....

Why do I need to purify my home’s air?

Toxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and pollutants abound in many common household products, including carpet, upholstery, building materials, paint, even cleaning solutions. In addition, allergens in the air from flowering trees and plants can aggravate respiratory problems. Your home’s HVAC filters might not catch all of them....

Indoor odors

Aromas from cooking get absorbed by both hard and soft surfaces in your home. When selling, odors can assail potential buyers’ senses and give a negative impression of your home. Air-purifying plants work well in combination with room purifiers and filters....

How many air purifying plants do I need?

NASA recommends one plant per 200 square feet for best results and purest air. However, when staging, lots of plants clutter the space and take attention away from your home’s best features. Limit plants to one small section of the living room and a few herbs in the kitchen. For best effect, use air-purifying plants for several months just before listing, then scale back. When staging, less is more....

How do air-purifying plants work?

While extracting carbon dioxide from the air, plants also pull in toxins and allergens. They then go through photosynthesis to become oxygen. However, potting soil contains microorganisms which perform the majority of the cleansing effect. Using high-quality potting soil in addition to the plants listed below will yield the best results....

Types of plants

Many require little to no skill to maintain. Rubber trees, philodendron, and peace lilies are all easy-to-care-for air-purifying plants. Here are a few more....

Aloe. Beyond treating burns with its gel, aloe removes air pollutants found in most household cleaners. The leaves will show brown spots when the air becomes too toxic.
Bamboo. Rated highly by NASA, bamboo plants absorb benzene (found in inks and markers, soft drinks, and lighter fluid) and trichloroethylene (found in water supplies). Both are considered cancer-causing agents.
English ivy. This common plant absorbs formaldehyde and adapts easily to various indoor growing conditions.
Spider plants. These effectively reduce benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide inside your home.
Snake plants. Have trouble sleeping? Use these in your bedroom as they absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen during nighttime hours.

Room placement

If breathing issues occur in a particular room, place a plant or two there and monitor for improvement. Take note of lighting conditions before purchasing a plant....

Benefits of combating stifled, stagnant indoor air extend to lowering blood pressure and decreasing headaches and dizziness. Many believe air-purifying plants also promote alertness and minimize fatigue, reduce stress and hasten healing rates....

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