What are Ways You Can Upgrade Your Bathroom to a New Trendy Bathroom for a Quick Sale?

Upgrading your bathroom can be the perfect way to change the curb appeal in your home. Although it can be pricey, adding a few upgrades and ideas can help you ensure your home sells quick.

1. Skylights- A skylight can provide natural light and ventilation. They have a major “wow” factor and are very practical.
2. Lighted Vanity Mirrors.
3. Double-flush Toilet- Dual flush toilet only uses the water you need to get the job done.
4. Towel Warmers- Adding wall-mounted or free standing towel warmers will provide a cozy, warm towel every time you bathe.
5. Shower Foot Rest.

How to Easily Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets

It’s true what they say, over the years we tend to accumulate unnecessary stuff and find the only place for it to collect is in our kitchen cabinets and drawers. You may think shutting the drawers and cabinets will make the mess go away, but in reality it’s only hiding that mess. The mismatched Tupperware, random odds and ends, stacks of plastic bowls still remain behind those doors.

1. It’s time to say good-bye. Preparing yourself for that day you get the itch to organize is just the start into getting rid of the unused items. To start you have to prepare yourself to get rid of the used items. If you haven’t used that item in a year it’s probably time to part ways.

2. Schedule time on a weekend afternoon. Dedicate time within your busy schedule to clean out your kitchen cabinets and draws. The key is to stick with the time you have set aside and not reschedule it.

3. Pump up the jams! Create a playlist with your favorite jams! Make organizing a fun task while listening to your favorite artists.

4. Take everything out of your cabinets and drawers. Leave nothing behind- remove everything from your cabinets and drawers. Sort your items into different piles from “commonly used,” “sometimes used,” and “never used.”

5. Wipe down the inside of your cabinets and drawers. Disinfect your cabinets and drawers to make sure nothing is left behind. Tear out the old shelf paper and add new paper in there.

6. Throw out what you don’t use and organize. Throw out your “never used” pile and go through your “sometimes used” pile to see if there are items you probably won’t use again. Once you have completed that, place your items into the cabinets and drawers in a neat fashion.

7. Admire your hard work! Pour yourself a celebratory drink- you’ve conquered the kitchen!

What Are Some Tips and Tricks When Completing a Final Walk-Through?

With the hot market for first time homebuyers, it’s important not to rush into a home that may not be fit for you and your family or overlook items in the walk through that can in the end cost you money. The final walk-through is one of the most important steps when buying your home. You must inspect everything from top to bottom and not miss anything in between.

1. Have all documents handy when performing the walk-through., including your contract, inspection report, and any seller disclosures. These documents will point out any repairs that need to be made or any issues the inspector found during the inspection process.

2. Inspect everything! Inspect the inside and outside of your home. Pay close attention to the areas the seller agreed to fix.

3. Test everything! Make sure you test all of the appliances, HVAC system, power outlets, turn on all of the faucets, and even flush the toilets.

4. When the walk-through is complete ask for all working keys, garage code, alarm code, garage openers, and any manuals that relate to appliances/systems in the home.

How to Give Your Patio a Makeover?

With the beautiful weather here, it’s time to start enjoying the outdoors, especially after a long winter. Your patio is the perfect place to start! Creating a livable outdoor space will make you never want to return inside, even on those rainy days.

1. Don’t start from scratch; work with the space you have. Don’t spend money renovating your yard and outdoor living space- work with what you have. Sketch out your desired space and take measurements to see what you are working with. Set a budget.

2. Take into consideration the environment you live in and what surface would work best for your space.

3. With the heat from the summer sun, it’s important to plan your shade especially if you plan on entertaining guests. Considering adding a few umbrellas or a pergola for extra shade.

4. Add landscaping and plants around your new space to add a colorful touch to your space.

5. Determine where you want to add your furniture and seating. Take into consideration the budget you have set for yourself. If your budget doesn’t allow new furniture consider stopping by a few local garage sales.

How to clean up a spill before it becomes a stain?

Having your friends over for dinner, enjoying a glass of wine with your significant other, or even giving your child juice can all lead to messy spills but if you aren’t careful they can lead to stains. Before you get to work on preventing that spill from turning into a stain, start by scraping away any spilled material- do not run in or spread the mess. Finally, blot with paper towels and water before moving to other remedies.

Red Wine- Red wine can be the most common and damaging stain to your carpet or table clothes. If you spill, blot the area with clean towels and apply a home remedy of white vinegar followed by water.

Candle Drippings- Scrape up the drippings; lay down paper towels and run and iron set to low heat over the area.

Berry Juice- Blot the area with 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol and one tablespoon of white vinegar. Apply that three to four times with a clean cloth then rinse with cold water.

Makeup and Nail Polish- Carefully scrape off the excess with a blunt edge like a knife or spoon, apply a little rubbing alcohol or non-acetone-based nail polish remover to the stain and blot with a clean cotton swab. Rinse with warm water.

What are Four Ways to Heighten Your Homes Style?

Heightening the style of your home can help you sell that home quicker and cane be more visually appealing to the potential buyers. Here are 4 ways to heighten that style:

1. Gallery Walls- creating a style and a room that is uniquely yours by adding a array or frames or objects in a well thought-cluster on your wall will perfectly showcase your framed family portraits, sketches, postcards, and mirrors.

2. ‘60s Mod Inspiration- the new trend for 2015 is retro mod or taking yourself back to the ‘60s where the designs were curvy forms with vibrant colors and eccentric patterns. This décor will perk up rooms with soft, sculptural lines, woven upholstery and bright accessories in geometric shapes.

3. Copper Touches- copper is on the rising this year! Adding small copper pieces can make a big statement by adding copper light fixtures, planters or table setting. Even displaying your copper cookware in the kitchen will add a touch of glamour

4. Organic Elements- adding mounted antlers to your mantel or creating centerpieces with shells, metallic leaves, or branches will add an organic element to your home.

What do you need to know before you become a homeowner this year?

To purchase a home there are many steps and preparations you must go through before the buying process. While mortgage rates are at the low right now it is important to complete all of the steps before you start looking at homes.

1. Get preapproved- Meeting with a loan specialist to see if you can get preapproved is a proactive way to stay ahead of the game. If you aren’t sure if you have been preapproved- check your credit report to see if your application was submitted to an underwriter. If it has been, then you are good to go!

2. Don’t alter your credit habits- Avoid opening/closing credit cards and keep all balances with normal range.

3. Avoid Moving Funds- Put off moving funds until after you’ve closed on the home. Do not cash in on any investments, retirement accounts or CDs. Do not use your savings to pay off any debts or fund a CD.

4. Get Your Down Payment Gift Early- If a family member is willing to help you put a down payment on your home, deposit the money into your account more than two months prior to applying for a loan.

5. Create a PDF of all documents0 Include all bank statements for checking, savings, and investment accounts, pay stubs, W-2s, tax returns and canceled rent checks.

6. Be prepared to write letters- If there are frequent movements in short amount of time or substantial monetary gift- be prepared to explain that in a letter to your loan officer before your loan gets approved.

7. Cut Costs on Mortgage Insurance- With the new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage programs only requiring around 3% for a down payment can lead to higher insurance premiums through the FHA. Consider opting for private mortgage insurers who generally have cheaper premiums.