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If You’re Renovating Your Home, This Guide is for You
The Kari Haas Real Estate Team has a genuine desire to help you achieve your real estate goals while negotiating smartly to protect your best interests. Connect with us today to learn more!
Home renovations can be exciting and rewarding, but they can also be overwhelming. There are so many things to consider when planning one, from the budget to the timeline to finding the right contractors. Today, the Kari Haas Real Estate Team walks you through everything you need to know about home renovations, from start to finish.
Home Renovation Options
There are nearly limitless possibilities when it comes to home renovations. Some common types of home renovations include:
- Kitchen renovations: Limitless Renovations points out that a new kitchen can add both value and functionality to your home. When planning a kitchen renovation, be sure to consider the layout, appliances, countertops, and backsplash.
- Bathroom renovations: A bathroom renovation is a great way to update an outdated space or add an extra bathroom to your home. When planning a bathroom renovation, be sure to consider the layout, fixtures, tile, and lighting.
- Whole-house renovations: A whole-house renovation is a big undertaking, but it can completely transform your home. When planning a whole-house renovation, be sure to consider the layout of each room, the flow of the house, and how all of the spaces will work together.
The Need for a Home Warranty
It’s important to get a home warranty when your renovation is complete. But does the cost of a home warranty pencil out? This type of insurance will cover repairs or replacements of items in your home that break down due to normal wear and tear. This can save you thousands of dollars in unexpected repairs down the road, overriding the initial cost of the insurance itself.
You only need some basic information to determine what the costs are to add a warranty to your home, like the square footage and the plan type you’re interested in. Factor this cost into your overall budget to protect yourself after the remodel.
A Home Office Addition
One popular type of home renovation is adding a home office. With more and more people working from home these days, it’s no surprise that this is a popular trend. When adding a home office, be sure to consider the layout, furniture, and storage needs. And don’t forget about lighting! Make sure your office has plenty of natural light so you can avoid eye strain.
Your Contractor Is Your Ally – Choose Wisely
One of the most important things you can do to ensure that your renovation goes smoothly is to find a reputable contractor. A good contractor will be able to take your vision and turn it into reality while also staying on budget and on schedule. Furthermore, a reputable contractor will be honest and transparent, letting you know if there are any potential problems with your plans. Finally, a good contractor will have a strong team of experienced workers who will be able to complete the job quickly and efficiently.
Clearly Conveying Your Ideas
One of the most important things you can do during a home renovation is communicate your ideas clearly with your contractor (or contractors). Be as specific as possible about what you want — and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure about something. After all, it’s your home, and you should love the final result!
Budgeting for Your Home Renovation
One of the most important aspects of any home renovation is budgeting — Houselogic.com notes that you need to know how much money you have available to spend on your project. Estimating costs can be tricky, so be sure to get multiple estimates from different contractors before making any final decisions. You should also factor in unforeseen costs like permits or materials that end up being more expensive than expected.
Take the time to set up a digital filing system. You’ll find that it helps you to keep track of your budget, schedule, contact information, warranties, and anything else that comes up during your renovation. Once you have the files digitized, you can easily combine them using a free merge tool; you can use this to combine PDFs in just five quick steps.
Negotiating a Timeline
Once you’ve settled on a budget and estimated costs, it’s time to establish a timeline and schedule for your project. Be realistic about how long it will take and factor in buffer time for unexpected delays or setbacks. You should also coordinate with your contractor(s) to ensure that their schedule works with yours. The last thing you want is for your contractor(s) to show up when you’re not ready!
Essential Contractor Apps
Last but not least, let’s talk about contractors — specifically, the apps or software they use during construction projects (like yours!). Some common apps or software used by contractors include: project management software, accounting software, communication tools, time tracking software, and scheduling software. These can all lead to a better overall remodel experience.
What If You Decide to Sell?
Once you’ve finished your renovations, you might decide to sell. Or maybe you’ll even enjoy the process so much that you’ll decide to get into house-flipping. Obviously, location matters a great deal, so research your local market to get a feel for how lucrative this new venture can be!
Move Forward with Purpose
Now that we’ve gone over some key things to expect during a home renovation project, you should have some peace of mind as you begin planning your own project. It can seem like a lot, but with the right attitude (and contractor!), you can achieve a successful remodel.
Image via Pexels
This post was written by Michah Norris for the Kari Haas Real Estate Team blog.
How Smoking Can Affect a Home’s Value and How to Mitigate This
Smoking in the US has hit an all-time low in recent years, but millions continue to smoke to this day. Most smokers in America use around six to ten cigarettes daily. With smoking in public laws becoming much stricter across the country, more smokers are choosing to smoke at home. However, this convenient solution has negative impacts not only on health but on houses as well. Cigarette smoke can linger in the interior of your home, decreasing its value and making it harder to sell. Here’s how smoking can affect a home’s value and how to mitigate this:
Why smoking devalues a home
Persistent stains and smells
Constant smoking in the home leaves behind yellow stains on walls, carpets, and furniture due to cigarette tar and nicotine. This dramatically affects your home’s value as many people would be less likely to purchase a home with an unsightly look from smoking, especially if they will be forced to pay extra for the renovations. The smell of smoke also lingers in rooms for a long time, affecting air quality and the home’s living environment. The build-up of smoke can even get into your home’s ventilation systems and may need to be replaced if too damaged. Potential buyers may not be happy about your home’s condition, which can keep property value low and drive people away.
Health risks
The effects of smoking in your home don’t go away even if you sell the house. Insights from the National Insititute on Drug Abuse highlight that chemical residue from smoking can linger on surfaces even after smoke has cleared; this phenomenon is called thirdhand smoke, and it still poses many health risks to people who may inhale fumes or touch stained parts of the property. These issues can turn potential buyers off from purchasing your home, especially if lingering toxins can complicate existing health issues and affect new house residents. It also takes a lot of time, effort, and money to replace and repair contaminated items, which is both a hassle to you and the buyer and increases the liability of the sale.
How to preserve your home’s value
Try smokeless alternatives
If you still want to get a dose of nicotine in your home while preventing stains and smells from worsening, smokeless and tobacco-free nicotine products like patches, gums, and pouches are a great alternative to cigarettes. Nicotine pouches tucked between the gum and upper lip are one of the newer alternatives to hit the US market, with brands such as ZYN growing in popularity. Prilla’s deep dive into ZYN pouches outlines how they are tobacco-free and are made with food-grade fillers, nicotine salts, flavorings, and artificial sweeteners instead. You also have the option to choose from flavors like mint, citrus, and coffee and pick from different nicotine strengths like 3mg and 6mg to suit your preferences. Nicotine lozenges are similarly new products and are increasingly available on store shelves. Perrigo’s coated mint nicotine lozenges have recently gained FDA approval, allowing for more convenient options to keep your house smoke-free.
Maintain cleanliness
Cleanliness is crucial for any home and keeps stains and smells at bay. While it may not get rid of them completely, routine cleaning will help ensure your house doesn’t get too damaged and devalued. Cleaning your furniture, walls, floors, and ceilings should be done as much as possible; you can use ingredients like white vinegar or dish soap and baking soda solutions to scrub these areas spotless. You can also enlist the help of professionals to get a deeper cleaning now and then. Our Ultimate Spring Maintenance Checklist post notes that checking your HVAC systems and inspecting your windows and doors are good to do every year. However, you may want to do that more regularly if you’re a smoker to ensure these aren’t too damaged.
Quit smoking
Without a doubt, one of the best things you can do for your house and health is to quit smoking. You can clean your home as often as you want, but it won’t be effective if you continue to smoke. By reducing the smoke in the house, you can prevent stain and smell build-up and minimize harmful toxins. These things can stay in a property for a long time, but quitting smoking can ensure you don’t worsen these issues. Kicking the habit also improves your health drastically and will increase the chance of potential buyers purchasing your home.
If you have any questions about maintaining your home and it’s value or how to mitigate smoke damage or other types of damage, give Kari a call. We are here to help!
This post was written by Samantha Wise for the Kari Haas Real Estate Team blog.
Mastering the BRRRR Strategy: Tips for Real Estate Investors
Real estate investors looking to grow their portfolio understand the importance of adopting the BRRRR strategy (buy, rehab, rent, refinance, repeat). While this strategy can be rewarding, it requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and expertise. Here are some tips to help you master the BRRRR approach.
Up-And-Coming Areas
Choosing the right location is crucial when it comes to real estate investing. As a BRRRR investor, focusing your search on up-and-coming areas will cause the property to appreciate as you work on it. The best thing about up-and-coming areas is that they are affordable and offer great potential for growth and development. Identifying these areas early on can be the difference between a profitable investment and a failed one.
Undervalued Properties
The next step is to look for undervalued properties with the potential for appreciation. You want to find properties that are sold below market value but have the potential to increase in value after renovations. Doing so ensures that you get the best profit possible. Keep in mind that the key to finding undervalued properties is research, persistence, and patience.
Choosing Renovations
Once you’ve found the perfect property, the next step is to start making renovations. However, budget constraints can cause you to run out of funds before completing the project. To minimize this risk, focus on renovating the most valuable and necessary aspects of the property first.
Digitizing Paperwork
Real estate investment involves managing a lot of paperwork, which can be overwhelming if you have multiple properties. However, digitizing your documents into PDFs and storing them in the cloud is an effective solution. Digitization saves space, reduces clutter, improves security, and makes it easier to retrieve documents when you need them. If you use a PDF file converter, you can streamline your real estate investment process and focus on growing your portfolio.
Timeline and Budget
Time and budget are crucial factors when it comes to real estate investing. As a BRRRR investor, it’s essential to be mindful of your timeline and budget. You want to ensure that you complete the project on time and within budget. Running over budget or taking too long to complete the project can eat into your profits.
Understanding the Local Real Estate Market
Having a solid understanding of the local real estate market is key to making informed decisions when investing. You need to know when the right time to sell is, what properties are in demand, and what features buyers are looking for. A good way to stay informed is by networking with local real estate agents, attending industry events, and following market trends online.
Market Effectively
The final step is to market the property effectively. You want to attract as many potential buyers as possible to increase your chances of selling quickly and at a good price. Effective marketing involves professional photography, virtual tours, detailed descriptions, and listing your property on reputable real estate websites. The more exposure your property gets, the higher the chance of finding the right buyer.
In conclusion, mastering the BRRRR strategy requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and expertise. By focusing your search on up-and-coming areas, looking for undervalued properties with potential for appreciation, keeping all paperwork digitized, and more, you can increase your chances of success as a BRRRR investor.
When you’re ready to purchase a home, contact the Kari Haas Real Estate Team for exceptional service and local expertise.
Image: Pexels
This post was written by Micah Norris for the Kari Haas Real Estate Team blog.
How to Sell a Home After the Death of a Loved One
The loss of a loved one is a heartbreaking experience for everyone involved. But as an heir, along with grieving for your loss, there are other responsibilities you may have to dedicate your attention towards. One of these is handling the sale of the deceased’s estate. At the Kari Haas Real Estate Team, we understand that selling your loved one’s home can be a lengthy and emotional process. This article discusses the important steps you can take to navigate through this difficult time and make the right decisions.
Start the Probate Process
Probate is a legal process through which a court verifies the authenticity of the deceased’s will and grants an executor the power to manage the estate. Often an executor is named in the will itself and can be a beneficiary such as the deceased’s spouse or children. As reported by LegalMatch, a typical probate process can take around 12-24 months; hence it’s advised to start it as soon as possible and seek assistance from legal experts.
As an executor, you also need to fulfill additional responsibilities such as:
- Provide notice to all creditors of the estate
- Take inventory of the estate property
- Ensure that all debts, taxes, and liens are paid from the sale of the estate
An alternative to probate is a beneficiary deed, which allows for the instant transfer of property on the individual’s death. This does not involve any legal process and allows you to sell the estate at your convenience.
Prepare for the Sale
Once the legalities of estate transfer are complete, you can turn your attention towards planning to sell. The first step will be to clean and declutter the property. Go room by room and segregate items based on ones you can discard, sell or donate. Buy numerous plastic storage boxes and store items as per these categories. Depending on the size of the home, it can take you days or weeks to complete cleaning. Fortunately, the Kari Haas Team has plenty of resources to assist you with this.
Hiring a real estate agent, like a professional like Kari Haas, will streamline the selling process and ensure you get the best price. Our team will conduct an inspection and guide you on whether you should sell the house as is or make necessary repairs. If the deceased was elderly or sick for quite some time, they may not have paid much attention to the upkeep of the property.
In such situations, you will have two options. First, you can hire contractors to fix what is broken or in disrepair. The Kari Haas team has a long list of trusted vendors to help you find the right professionals in your area. Once you have found the right person or team for the job, you can start the renovation process.
Second, you can consider selling the home as a fixer-upper, which can help speed up the process. Fixer-uppers are often priced lower and appeal to buyers who want to create a home based on their ideas and preferences. To get the best price for your home, focus on advertising its most desirable features, such as central location, large outdoor spaces, open floor plan, etc. Using our experience, the Kari Haas Real Estate Team will help set the price, which will invite the most bids and meet your selling expectations.
Stage Your Property
Whether you are selling the property as a fixer-upper or not, it’s important to invest in staging. Staging involves undertaking activities that make your home appealing to buyers. When done right, it can help secure a higher selling price than expected. Here are some go-to staging practices to use:
- Deep clean all rooms of your home, including the attic, basement, and garage. You can do it yourself or hire professional cleaners.
- Add a fresh coat of paint to rooms that look run-down and dull.
- Replace all broken/flickering lights across the house.
- As reported by HGTV, landscaping your front lawn and back garden can increase your curb appeal.
Additionally, it’s best not to be home while your agent brings buyers over for showings. This allows them to freely navigate the home and ask questions. With a fixer-upper, your agent will be obliged to disclose any major complications with the property, such as a leaky roof, old floorboard, etc. This is to safeguard against any future claims regarding the property. Once you receive a few offers, select the one that best meets your expectations and let us, the Kari Haas Real Estate Team, complete the formalities.
Treat Your Responsibility with Care
When dealing with the responsibility of selling your loved one’s home, reduce the burden on yourself by enlisting the help of professionals who can handle legalities in a streamlined manner and guide you toward making informed decisions. But also remember that your loved one has entrusted their home to you. This was potentially a place they loved for many, many years, so treat it and the responsibility with the care it deserves.
The Kari Haas Real Estate Team guides several people through transactions like this each and every year. We are prepared to help you through any situation. Give Kari a call when you are ready!
Photo Credit: Brett Warton via Unsplash
This post was written by Micah Norris for the Kari Haas Real Estate Team blog.
Making Your Home a Healthy Place
Most of us spend a good deal of our lives at home, so of course, we want it to be a healthy place. Some improvements can be made quickly and easily, and others require more time, money, and effort, but there’s always something you can do to make your home a healthier place to live.
Do it yourself, or get a pro?
Healthy upgrades can be done on a large or small scale. If you’re planning to sell your home in the next five years, it’s a good idea to have value-boosting changes made with future buyers in mind.
For example, if you notice mold around your windows, they likely need replacing. Unless you have some carpentry experience, this is a job for the pros. If your windows are in good shape, but you want to have more control over light, temperature extremes, privacy, and the view, consider top-down-bottom-up shades. While you might enjoy selecting the perfect blinds for your home, many stores offer great deals, including installation, which could save you a lot of headaches.
If you have any leaky faucets or plumbing fixtures that no longer work as they should, have them replaced by professional plumbers. If the exhaust fan over your stove is not properly vented to the outdoors, then you are bringing particulates from cooking right back into your home and redistributing them. Installing or remediating an exhaust fan is a job for a pro.
Many things you can do yourself
So many upgrades to make your home a healthier place can easily be done by you. For example, you can purchase a free-standing air purifier and try it out in several rooms. Some plants actually cleanse the air of pollution, and investing in a few of these is a great idea.
Make sure the curtains or blinds in your bedroom completely block out all light in order to get the best possible sleep. Moving TVs and computers out of your bedroom is another way to ensure better sleep. Replace any Teflon or non-stick cookware with stainless steel or cast iron to avoid having your food absorb toxic chemicals from the coatings. Consider shifting to the use of natural cleaning products, such as baking soda and vinegar. Switch out candles made from petroleum-based paraffin to some that are soy-based–they’ll burn cleaner and emit fewer noxious chemicals.
Designing a healthy home office
Your home office shouldn’t be in your bedroom or living room if you want it to be efficient. It’s ideal to put it in a location with plenty of natural light, preferably coming in from two different sides of the room. Since natural light is known to increase productivity and concentration, choose window coverings that allow you to let the light in. Make sure that your desk and office chair are both the right height for you to avoid ergonomic issues, such as carpal tunnel. Make sure your office space is appealing, after all, you’ll be spending a good bit of time there.
There are many changes, both big and small, that can be made in your home to make it a healthier place to live. Start small, for example, by instituting a no-shoes rule and providing a place for everyone to leave their shoes upon entry. Before you invest in big remodeling projects, it might be worthwhile to check with a successful local realtor to find out what features are most appealing to current buyers. You may not want those features in your home, but then again, you might. While you are overhauling the healthy aspects of your home, it’s a great time to create a home office with the same parameters of maintaining good health in mind. Maintaining a healthy living and/or working space is an ongoing project that will pay off for years.
Planning on selling or buying a home? Contact the Kari Haas Real Estate Team for exceptional service.
Image courtesy of Pexels.
This post was written by Micah Norris for the Kari Haas Real Estate Team blog.
Fix It Up and Sell It: A Senior’s Guide to House Flipping
Believe it or not, retirement doesn’t suit everyone. In fact, some people simply enjoy working while others want to earn a little extra cash. That’s where house-flipping comes in. It can be an extremely profitable side gig for seniors willing to invest time and money. If you’re curious about learning more, you’re in luck. Kari Haas has some tips and resources to help you get started in the house-flipping business. Continue reading for a Senior’s Guide to House Flipping.
Finding Your Ideal Property
To find your ideal property, start by:
- Employing an agent: They know the best areas for flipping homes. If you’re looking for rehab properties, HomeLight suggests hiring an REO agent.
- Look for auctions: If you’re looking for a good discount, estate and foreclosure auctions provide good opportunities.
- Short sales: Some homeowners need to sell their property quickly, sometimes for less than the amount owed on their mortgage. These are known as short sales.
Finding a Mortgage
There are several options when it comes to finding a mortgage. FHA 203 (K) is a type of government-insured mortgage that allows a borrower to take out a loan for the property’s purchase and renovation costs. Other options include a VA renovation loan, HomeStyle loans, and a CHOICE Renovation loan. The Kari Haas Real Estate Team has trusted mortgage brokers to assist you in finding the right fit for you.
Caution Is the Name of the Game
The primary purpose of buying a fixer-upper home is to save money on the purchase price. Still, it doesn’t always work out as expected due to unforeseen repairs and necessary renovations. When searching for a property to renovate, look out for certain red flags, such as structural damage or dry rot. Add 20% to your estimate, particularly for major repairs, such as electrical work, HVAC upgrades, foundation problems, or issues with mold or asbestos.
Formalize Your Business as an LLC
When starting a house-flipping business, consider forming a limited liability company (LLC). This business entity offers benefits when it comes to filing taxes and helps shield you from personal liability. Each state has its own rules and procedures for setting up an LLC. In most cases, it’s easy and affordable and can often be done online.
Now that you’re legitimately structured and ready to operate as a going concern, you’ll need to take initial necessary steps to get up and running. This includes drafting a business plan, setting a budget, and developing a marketing strategy. This strategy should involve digital marketing on social media, which in today’s day and age is essential. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a technological wiz; in fact, these days, you can easily design banners online then let them do the work for you. With free online templates, you’re able to customize and share posts in no time.
Renovations to Boost Value
Homes & Gardens notes that there are several options to add value to your property through renovations. For instance, you can upgrade the kitchen lighting or hood range over the cooking surface, or add insulation to the attic to make the house more energy-efficient.
Some renovations, such as kitchen remodels, add more value to a property than others. Remodeling a kitchen requires a competent plumber, especially if you plan to have pipes repaired or replaced. Plumbing services typically cost between $45 and $150 per hour. Before hiring, always take a close look at reviews and insist on only working with licensed and insured professionals.
If you plan to hire contractors for repairs or renovation projects or a property manager, it’s important to set up a payroll system before contacting them. Keep in mind that there are many payroll software options; just be sure the platform you choose offers automatic payroll scheduling, as well as automatic calculating and tax filing, in addition to same-day direct deposit and the ability to manage employee benefits.
Selling Your Fixer-Upper
When the time comes to sell your fixer-upper, find a real estate agent who’s as invested in selling your home as you are. When searching for one, ask for referrals from people you trust. Set a realistic sale price using a home estimate tool.
House Flipping in Your Senior Years
House flipping is an exciting side gig, and if done correctly, it can be considerably rewarding financially. If you can avoid the pitfalls, employ the right professionals, and deal with the finances, you can enjoy all the benefits of house flipping in your senior years.
Whatever your real estate needs, Kari Haas can help you reach your goals with confidence. Call 206-719-2224.
This post was written by guest blogger, Lisa Walker.
Image courtesy of Unsplash
How to Plan Your Own DIY House Rehab
Are You Planning to DIY a House Rehab?
For many people, home renovations are a part of life. Whether it’s painting the living room or installing a new dishwasher, most homeowners will take on at least one project over the course of their time in their home, but what circumstances make it worth it to get an expert contractor involved in your remodel? Is it ever actually worth doing DIY projects around the house? Continue reading to learn more!
Common Myths about Home Renovation
If you are planning on doing renovations of any sort around the house, it is an important decision to make about whether it is worth it to do it yourself or hire a professional. Home renovations can be a fun, rewarding experience, but there are a lot of myths about home renovation that might make it seem more difficult than it is. Here are some of the most common myths regarding home renovations:
- If you don’t know what you’re doing, then it’s probably better to hire a professional. Not true! For most homeowners, knowing how and when to get help is the difference between a successful project and a disaster. Knowing when it’s time to ask for help can save you money and heartbreak down the line. With that said, for smaller jobs, there are plenty of online resources available to learn how to do something like changing light fixtures, faucets, electrical outlets, etc.
- All contractors are the same. Well, not really! It’s important to do some research into which contractor is the best fit for your project. For example, if you’re getting your fence repaired or installing a new one, it may be good to receive and repair quotes from different contractors before making a decision. A quick search on a platform like Angi for ‘fencing near me’ will put you in touch with several local contractors that you can then vet based on their rates, client reviews, licenses, insurance, and more.
- You need to spend a lot of money to make your house look beautiful. Not true! Most homeowners don’t need to spend a lot of money, nor do they want to. There are many small improvements that can have a big impact on the way your home looks and feels without breaking the bank. There are many different options when it comes to materials and supplies that can drastically affect the cost of your renovation.
Our Simple Guide to DIY or Hire Out
Deciding to DIY or hire a professional can be a difficult choice for homeowners. Here are some tips for specific jobs about when to do it yourself and when you should hire a professional:
Do These Yourself:
● Painting: For many people, painting is an easy thing to tackle on their own. You can learn the basics with a few YouTube videos and some practice. If you paint often, it is easy to perfect the skill and achieve a close to professional-looking finish. Painting can make a huge difference in the selling process!
● Cabinet knobs and handles: A few new cabinet knobs and handles can really go a long way towards making your kitchen feel modern and fresh, and it’s an easy job for most homeowners. Most hardware stores have tons of different and affordable options. Sometimes the small details such as these can make all the difference saving you from a much larger project, such as replacing the entire cabinet.
Hire These Out:
● Countertops: Countertops are one of the most important, stand-out pieces in your kitchen. It’s worth it to hire a professional for this job if you don’t want to risk messing up the finished product.
● Flooring: If you’re planning on using hardwood floors, tile, or other types of flooring that require precise measurements and cuts, hire it out. You want these jobs to look perfect.
Time to Start Your Rehab!
While these decisions can be difficult to make, they are more often than not worth it in the long run. Hopefully, the tips and advice in this article will make it easier for you to figure out what is best for your situation.
This post was originally submitted by Lisa Walker and has been edited by the Kari Haas Real Estate Team.
Fun and Affordable Ways to Turn Your Empty Nest into a Dream Home
Fun and Affordable Ways to Turn Your Empty Nest Into a Dream Home
If you are one of the many empty-nesters in the U.S., then you could have more house space than you know what to do with. Instead of leaving the extra space the way it is, how about taking on a few fun, budget-friendly projects that can give you a home that’s more suitable for your current needs? Read on for some great ideas from the Kari Haas Real Estate Team that will make your empty nest feel a little more full!
Start With Simple Projects
The best way to stay on budget with a home renovation is to settle on a few simple projects first. For example, now that you have an empty nest, you can make some tweaks to your child’s bedroom to convert it into a guest bedroom. According to Good Housekeeping, you can create a great space for your guests with the right decor. You can choose a theme for your room, like sleek elegance or cozy boho, and you’ll find giving the room a fresh coat of paint works wonders.
Create a Spa-Like Master Bathroom
Since adding a master bathroom or renovating the one you’ve got can be a costly venture, Philadelphia Magazine suggests taking some creative measures when you’re on a budget. You could increase your storage by adding a few baskets or additional shelving. Overstock has lots of great options no matter how much you’re looking to spend, and you’ll save even more by using an Overstock discount code or cash back incentive.
It can also help to use better lighting in the bathroom and upgrade your regular shower head to something more luxurious. If your new spa-like bathroom needs more than your creativity can fix, you can still save some money by getting deals on your fixtures. You can get great discounts when you shop around online—don’t forget to get the benefits of price matching whenever possible.
Get the Reading Room You Deserve
If you’ve always wanted a personalized room for your reading, you can convert your kid’s room for that as well, now that you have an empty nest. Depending on your personal style, you can make a few simple changes by adding ample shelving. Changing the color scheme to something more soothing or closer to your taste will also give the room a nice personal touch. Remember you’re on a budget, though, so find affordable ways to get a reading room you’ll love to be in. When you’re looking for that comfy reading chair and other pieces of furniture, Money Crashers suggests looking online at sites like Ikea, Pottery Barn, and eBay in order to find the lowest price on items of interest. You can also get deals from thrift stores or garage sales.
Give Your Hobby Some Room
An extra room is a good space to house your hobby supplies in one place. Prior to having the option, your supplies may have been stored all over the home or in a closet. Now’s the time to create a room that you can call your own and decorate as you wish. Some of the hobbies that benefit from having their own area are painting, sewing, drawing and crafts. When you’re designing the area, make sure to plan for adequate lighting and ventilation. With the right resources, you can save not only on your design elements but also hobby-related supplies.
While it’s not easy to move on from the fact that you have the house for yourself, it can be good for you to focus on a few choice renovation projects. These projects can not only offer enjoyment, they can remain affordable as long as you plan out pertinent details and take advantage of discounts when you can.
Are you looking to buy or sell a home in Seattle? Reach out to the Kari Haas Real Estate Team for a smooth and successful buying or selling experience!
This post was originally submitted by Tina Martin and has been edited by the Kari Haas Real Estate Team. Tina is the creator of Ideaspired.com, where she helps people follow their dreams and be their own inspiration.
When Establishing a Home Office, Should You Buy New or Remodel?
When Establishing a Home Office, Should You Buy New or Remodel?
West Bellevue Beauty Home Office
When you have dreams of running your own business from home, your first reaction is likely to evaluate your current space. Is it big enough? Can you actually run a business from home without violating zoning regulations? How can you ensure your business’s success in this space? These are all fair questions, and ones you should answer before you decide on whether to buy a new home or remodel your existing space to fit your professional plans.
No matter your real estate needs, expert realtor Kari Haas can help you reach your goals! For more information, submit this form or call/text (206) 719-2224.
Twin Lakes Custom Split Level Home Office
Buying New
Buying a new home makes a lot of sense if you have equity in your current property and need a larger space. Determine the value of your current property and your remaining mortgage, which will give you an idea of how much cash you have to work with to put down on another. You should also confirm that your city or county will allow your type of business to operate in a residential zone. Chances are, if you simply need a home office and don’t plan to meet with clients, you can more or less relocate anywhere.
Next, you’ll want to take preemptive steps to separate your personal finances from your business’s cash flow. Do this by forming an LLC, which also has tax advantages and reduces your personal financial liability if your business begins to struggle. Forming an LLC is not complicated, and you can typically use a formation service and file on your own. Zen Business outlines the steps required to form an LLC in Washington and explains that this will start by registering a business entity name.
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Remodeling
In some cases, staying where you are is the most family and budget-friendly option. This is especially true when you already have space, such as a garage or walk-in attic, that you don’t use. Remodeling a garage or other unfinished area can be expensive, and you can expect to invest thousands of dollars to make it right. That being said, it is still less expensive than spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a new home.
Before you begin such a large undertaking, consult with numerous contractors for quotes. You’ll also want to confirm that their license is up to date and verify that they carry liability insurance.
With doing over 50 transactions a year and helping her clients remodel homes, Kari Haas is an excellent person to support you in a remodel. Whether it is bouncing around ideas or providing trusted referrals, Kari Haas is there to help you.
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Making Do
Many of us simply don’t have the funds to buy a new home or renovate an existing space when we are also starting a business. This doesn’t mean that you can’t work from the comfort of home and have a creative and productive space from which to do so. Look around at your current setup. A spare bedroom, bonus room, or even large walk-in closet can easily be turned into a home office. A desk and chair, overhead lighting, and a strong internet connection may be all you need to get started.
When you’re ready to make your move to home-based entrepreneurship, you have options. Whether you choose to buy a new home, renovate your existing space, or stay put, you are getting ready to start a brand-new adventure. No matter the choice, be prepared, plan your budget, and get ready to get to work.
This post was originally submitted by Tina Martin and has been edited by the Kari Haas Team. Tina is the creator of Ideaspired.com, where she helps people follow their dreams and be their own inspiration.
Eco-Friendly Smart Home Upgrades For Greener Living
Smart home tech obviously offers a lot to get excited about, but did you know it can also make your home more eco-friendly? There are a ton of smart home upgrades that go a long way toward reducing your carbon footprint. This will make your home greener, lower your electricity bills, and can even boost your property value!
Here’s a look at how to turn your house into an eco-friendly smart home:
Staying Safe While Getting Smart
Adding smart devices to your home is a great way to improve your day-to-day life and reduce your impact on the environment. However, you must do it right, and that means doing it safely. The more devices you have connected to the internet, the more vulnerable your home is to hackers. You want to make sure you’ve secured your network as much as possible, and stay careful and thoughtful every time you add a device.
Start by creating an additional hidden WiFi network, and make that the only network you connect smart devices to. The great thing about a hidden WiFi network is that it won’t come up in “available network” searches for people nearby. Although they’re not impossible to find, they prevent you from being an easy target. You should also always set up your networks with randomly generated passwords, and only give network access to people you really trust. It is also smart to change your WiFi password after, say, a breakup — just in case.
Smart Utilities
The most straightforward way to use smart technology to reduce your carbon footprint is to build smart tech into your utility usage. For example, you could invest in a smart thermostat. This offers several carbon-footprint-friendly features — most notably, it allows you to keep your heating and cooling output low while you’re out of the house, but brings the temperature back to comfort-level before you get home.
You could also look into installing a smart faucet in your kitchen. This gives you the ability to be really specific with your water usage. For example, if you need two cups of water for a recipe, it’ll measure two cups exactly — no overage to pour out. It can also help you track your water usage, which keeps you aware and helps you moderate where possible.
Obviously, it is wonderful how these devices help reduce harm on the planet, but let’s be honest: the reduced utility bills are nice, too.
Smart Tech for Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Changes
Smart technology can make your life eco-friendlier indirectly as well by encouraging environmentally conscious lifestyle decisions. For example, you might be surprised how much smart tech is out there for indoor container gardening. You can use smart sensors to know exactly when your plants need water, whether or not they’re getting enough light, and more. This is a great support tool for anyone who wants to move toward a more self-sustainable lifestyle by growing their own herbs and foods at home.
Even something as simple as a smart home hub can encourage you to stay eco-friendly. Subscribe to environmentally-minded podcasts and set them to play on your smart speaker throughout the day. This keeps you up to date on the latest technology and science for keeping the planet healthy and empowers you to make smart decisions on a personal, professional, and political level.
Smart home tech can do a lot to keep our lives as eco-friendly as possible while also making them easier and more pleasant. Focus on the forms of tech that will shrink your utility bill, reduce your carbon footprint, and improve your property value all at once to create the perfect eco-friendly smart home.
Looking for a property so you can get started? Contact Kari Haas for help finding the perfect fit!
Photo Credit: Pexels
This post was originally submitted by Lisa Walker and has been edited by the Kari Haas Team. Lisa walker is the creator of NeighborhoodSprout.org, which provides inspiration for people putting time and energy into their homes.
