Search Results for: upgrade — 40 articles

Tips for Energy Efficient Lighting

Upgrading the lighting in your home with energy efficient bulbs or other types of lighting can cut your monthly power bill dramatically. It may take some time, but even the more expensive energy efficient bulbs pay for themselves, and then some. In this article, you will discover lighting options that offer you a way to be green and save money on your utilities at the same time. Energy Efficient Light Bulbs Compact Fluorescent Bulbs: These energy efficient lights are far more commonplace than they used to be. Replacing any incandescent light bulbs with these will give you the largest boost…

Outdoor Renovations? Think Budget and Scope

Many homeowners view their outdoor spaces as their own personal oases, places where they can relax, dine and spend time with their friends and loved ones. In light of this, it makes sense that homeowners consider investing in major features that will transform their outdoor areas into additional living spaces. Like any home-renovation project, however, outdoor renovations can easily get out of control if you don’t have a good handle on how much things will cost, what your goals are and whether you’re doing the work yourself or need professional help. Before you dive into an outdoor improvement, take these…

Short on Existing-Home Options? 4 Reasons to Buy New

Buying a home in some markets is like being in a gladiator ring. Multiple rounds of showings and getting into — and losing — bidding wars can leave you feeling defeated. If you’re growing weary of wading through an increasingly shrinking inventory of resales, there’s another possibility worth considering: buying new construction. Although the pace of new construction has lagged demand in recent years, total housing starts are projected to increase by 6.1 percent in 2016 compared with 2015, says Stephen Melman, director of economic services for the National Association of Home Builders. Much of that gain is likely to…

Inexpensive Quick Tips to Save on Energy Costs

As winter approaches, we’re all wondering how much our heating bill is going to cost us this year. Every year, it seems it gets more and more expensive to just stay warm. Even when you think you’re monitoring your heat and cooling usage, the utility bill is through the roof. If you have had any experience with this, here are a few super simple tips to keep you from emptying out your wallet every time the bill comes. Programmable Thermostat While it may seem like an expensive option, upgrade to a programmable thermostat. This will let you schedule times that…

The Basics of Flipping a Lake Home

Purchasing a home to renovate is the first step in the flipping process. But how do you know which house is the best to buy? Generally speaking, if someone was to buy a low priced home, controls the cost, and then sells high, they will cash out big. If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, it is not. There are many questions that you will need to ask in order to be successful when you are flipping a lake home. To begin, how do you know what market would be best; low market, middle market, or high market? What makes…

Quick DIY Home Repairs to Increase Your Home Value

If you are looking for cheap and easy ways to enhance your home, then you will love the information listed here. There are some DIY home repairs listed that will increase the speed that your home sells. Kitchen This is one of the rooms in the home that can make or break the sell. Even if it is a smaller kitchen, it can be perceived as “comfortable” and not small. You can redo the kitchen very cheaply. Make sure that you offer a fresh coat of paint. It is best to use light colors to brighten the kitchen up. When it comes to…

What To Expect From a Home Owners Association (HOA)

When you purchase a home, sometimes you will have obligations set forth by the local Home Owners Association (HOA). At times, it also includes a small fee in order to keep surrounding common areas up to par. You will need to educate yourself about the HOA before or after you purchase your home. The Basics The fees associated with the HOA are typically between 200-400 dollars. It is paid monthly. Typically, the more upscale the residence is, the higher the fees will be for that specific property. One thing you will need to know about the fees is that it…

5 Simple Ways to Go Green

There are ways to go “green” to help you save the planet and help you keep money in your pocket. This is especially important when you have more than one home. Following this list will help you in your home and vacation home. 1: Energy Set the thermostat three degrees lower in the winter months and three degrees higher in the summer months. It will save you on cooling and heating costs. Once the older bulbs burn out, install LED bulbs. Wash your laundry in cold water. This will save you 85% of the energy burned when doing laundry. Upgrade…

Pros and Cons of Renting Out Your Lake Home

Buying a lake home can be an incredible investment. There’s nothing like having a second home that you can use for vacation – especially one that’s on the lake. What better place to take the family on summer vacation than a home right on the lake? You’ll be feet away from being able to go for a swim. You could even invest in a boat that you can take out onto the water whenever you want. However, if you are buying a lake home for use as a vacation home, you may want to consider renting it out during the…