Home Safety Checklist
A safe, secure home fosters an atmosphere of ease and well-being. Make safety a top priority with these tips to protect your family from potential hazards.
- Store a fire extinguisher in an easy-to-access location.
- Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors regularly and replace every 10 years.
- Inspect appliances for frayed electrical cords and other damage.
- Locate and test water shut-off valves.
- Have your HVAC system and water heater inspected every year.
- Change air filters on a regular basis.
- Create an emergency escape plan in case of fire.
- Clean and inspect rain gutters and downspouts.
- Trim trees away from the house to help prevent damage from storms.
Bathroom Updates Done in Less Than a Day
Revamping your bathroom doesn’t have to mean a full-scale renovation. Instead, think of it as a spa retreat in the making, with a few quick and easy updates that promise maximum style and minimal mess. If you want to update your bathroom without the hassle of a costly and time-intensive remodel, consider these fun, easy and fast DIY ideas.
Decor Update bathmats and towels with new, coordinating pieces to evoke a spa-like atmosphere. Bring in plants that thrive in humid environments, like spider plants or snake plants, or opt for faux plants if your bathroom lacks sunlight. Continue the spa look with reusable soap and lotion dispensers, and place floss picks, cotton balls and other personal care items in stylish, coordinated containers for a touch of sophistication. Walls Install beadboard paneling, peel-and-stick wainscoting or vinyl wallpaper for eye-catching texture. Paint a bold circle or geometric shape around a mirror for a quick pop of color. Gather an assortment of old frames and artwork to create a unique gallery wall for an added dash of personality. Hardware Switch out your shower curtain and rod with contemporary options. For a more dramatic change, move the shower rod up and opt for a floor-to-ceiling curtain, giving the impression of a larger space. Install new cabinet hardware, or go eclectic with mix-and-match knobs and pulls. Update older light fixtures for a striking new look, and add shelving to create dimension and gain storage.©2023 The Personal Marketing Company. All rights reserved. Reproductions in any form, in part or in whole, are prohibited without written permission. If your property is currently listed for sale or lease, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing. The material in this publication is for your information only and not intended to be used in lieu of seeking additional consumer or professional advice. All trademarked names or quotations are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Add Color Without Painting
Put down the paint roller and take the plastic tarps off your furniture — there are plenty of ways to add color to your home that don’t involve painting walls. Consider these colorful concepts.
Flashy Lamps Every great room needs great lighting, which makes it the perfect opportunity to introduce new hues. Hang vibrant pendant lights, bring in a bold desk lamp or swap out lampshades for more colorful options. Faux “Stained Glass” Who says all your windows must be transparent? Let the sun’s rays diffuse through removable window film that mimics stained glass, available in solid colors or traditional cut-glass mosaics. Happy Hardware Revitalize cabinets with ornate or bright knobs and pulls. From a single piece to an entire kitchen, these little pops of color will make a big splash.Home Tech Upgrades
Technology often feels like it’s moving at the speed of light — just when you think you’ve got a smart home, smarter technology is released. Staying on top of home tech upgrades can be intimidating, but it can also be a fun challenge. After all, advanced tech is aimed at making life easier. Here are some tips to help you make upgrading decisions in the future.
What To Upgrade Smart hubs connect all smart devices within a home. Think of them as the brains of the operation, tying every light bulb, smart lock, playlist, and doorbell together. If these hubs or their controllers aren’t compatible with newer tech, consider an upgrade for better integration, operation and security. An outdated home security system can leave you vulnerable to break-ins. With advancements in encryption, camera resolution and alerts, it’s in your best interest to keep this tech up to date and in working order. Always being improved, smart appliances are some of the most fun and utilitarian home tech items. While older models might not necessitate replacement like other tech, enhancements such as food management, energy efficiency and artificial intelligence make it tempting to upgrade. When To Upgrade Just because a new model is available doesn’t mean you need to upgrade. Many smart devices maintain full functionality for years. However, if your device will no longer accept software updates, consider replacing it. This way, you’re protected from security risks, and the item remains compatible with your other smart tech. There’s also no need to put up with malfunctioning devices. In a connected environment, one kink can slow down the entire chain. If your tech is sluggish, some features don’t work or the quality is degrading, it’s probably time to look for a new model.Invest in Yourself by Owning a Home
Are you wondering if it makes sense to buy a home right now? While today’s mortgage rates might seem a bit intimidating, here are two compelling reasons why it still may be a good time to become a homeowner.
Home Values Appreciate over Time
There’s been a lot of confusion around what’s happened with home prices over the past two years. While they did dip ever so slightly in late 2022, this year they’ve been appreciating at a more normal pace, which is good news for the housing market. And while looking at price movement over just a year or two can make you worry prices are usually this unpredictable, history shows in the long run, home values rise.
Using data from the Federal Reserve for the past 60 years, you can see the overall trend is home prices have climbed quite steadily. Sure, there was an exception around the housing crash of 2008 that caused prices to break the usual trend for a time, but overall, home values have been consistently on the rise.
Increasing home values is one great reason why buying may make more sense than renting. As prices rise, and as you pay down your mortgage, you build equity. Over time, that growing equity gives your net worth a boost.
Rent Keeps Going Up Through the Years
Another reason you may want to consider buying a home instead of renting is the never-ending rent hike. If you’ve ever felt the pinch of rent increasing year after year, you’re not alone. That’s because, rents have climbed steadily over the past six decades.
By buying a home, you can lock in your monthly housing costs and bid farewell to those pesky rent hikes. That stability is a game-changer.
In the end, it all boils down to this: your housing payments are an investment, and you’ve got a choice to make. Do you want to invest in yourself or your landlord?
By becoming a homeowner, you’re investing in your own future. When you rent, that’s money you never get back.
When you factor in home values consistently rising, plus the opportunity to get relief from never-ending rent hikes, homeownership can be a path to financial security. As Dr. Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), states:
“If a homebuyer is financially stable, able to manage monthly mortgage costs and can handle the associated household maintenance expenses, then it makes sense to purchase a home.”
Bottom Line
When it comes down to it, buying a home offers more benefits than renting, even when mortgage rates are high. If you want to avoid increasing rents and take advantage of long-term home price appreciation, let’s connect to go over your options.