How to Make Your Home's Entryway Pop

The entrance of your home says a lot about your character, from interior design to overall aesthetics. Below are some helpful tips for making sure your space wows you and your guests every time.

Kill the clutter. Clutter is a huge no-no in your entryway, as it impacts the entire vibe of your space from the moment you set foot in the door. However, this can be hard, as the entryway is the space you dump your keys, mail, boots and coat. To remedy this, make sure you have designated, tucked away spaces for everything you store at the entrance of your home. Hooks for coats, baskets for mail and a covered bin for shoes can all work wonders.

Add a statement. Placing a beloved piece of art or furniture in the mouth of your home is a great way to appreciate it every time you enter, and can offer a fantastic conversation starter between you and guests.

Have a seat. Whether it’s a plush chair or a simple bench, a seat in your entryway is great for roosting as you tie your shoelaces, and makes a perfect place for attractive accent pillows.

Light it right. Good lighting in your entryway is a must. Add an attractive lighting fixture, set up a dimmer for mood and a floor or table lamp for added options.

Personal touches. Placing photos of your family and pets in your entryway can add a nice personal element and warm your heart every time you pass by.

How to Find Your Home Decor Style

If you're redecorating your home, or moving into your very first space of your own, you're likely considering various home décor styles. But what if you're unsure of your personal space style?

Aside from perusing Pinterest, there are many ways you can "try on" different looks for your home. Consider the following:

Think about your clothing style. Many of us end up incorporating our personal wardrobe style into our home, so this is a good place to start. Is your wardrobe simple and streamlined? Do you love accessories or jewelry? All of these can be great starting spots.

Peruse the stores. Take an afternoon and walk through home furnishing stores, paying mind to their sample displays. What do you like? What do you dislike? Take notes on styles and pieces you admire.

Snag a design catalog. Pick up an interior design magazine and flip through it, circling favorite ideas and set-ups.

There's an app for that. There are several home design apps that allow you to upload a photo of your space and fill it with make-believe furniture. This is a great way to try on styles. Who knows, you may even surprise yourself.

Take the Stress out of the Buying and Selling Process With These Simple Tips

Regardless of what side of the real estate transaction you’re on, buying or selling a home can be a stressful experience, and if you’re not careful, the anxieties associated with the process can become overwhelming. While getting out of the house for a massage or yoga class can be helpful, here are some additional ways to take the stress out of the process.  
 
First, understand your goals in buying or selling a home. Make a list of what you hope to accomplish—the price, neighborhood, timetable, etc. Once you know exactly what you want, you’ll have an easier time explaining your wants and needs to your agent, alleviating some of the stress that goes hand-in-hand with the buying or selling process.
 
Another simple way to alleviate stress is to prepare your finances ahead of time. If buying a home, know what you can afford and get a pre-approval letter from your bank so you don’t have to worry about whether you can truly afford the home you want. If selling a home, know what it will cost to make repairs or renovations and get estimates for the move itself. When both parties know how much money they really need, it makes things easier for everyone involved.
 
Next, take the time to read some books, blogs or online real estate advice that can provide a glimpse into what to expect when buying or selling a home. Understanding the process and being aware of issues that can come up will keep surprises from causing undo stress. If you understand the problems that can come with obtaining a mortgage or realize that not every offer will be a good one, you can keep your emotions at bay.
 
While you most likely already have an agent working with you, other professionals can help alleviate stress as well. Having a good real estate lawyer will let you sign any contracts without fear that you’re making a mistake. Hiring a good inspector will allow you to rest easy knowing that any problems with the house will be found. And working with a home stager will go a long way toward positioning your home in the best light possible.
 
In the end, remember that not everything can be controlled, and the real estate game can get confusing at times. If something unexpected comes up, take a deep breath, relax and try to do something to take your mind off of the deal for a while. 
 
Contact me today for more tips to help take the stress out of the buying or selling process. 

Credit Freezes Are Now Free: What Does It Mean For You?

The bill that rolled back banking regulations imposed by the Dodd-Frank bill in the wake of the Great Recession included an interesting tidbit for consumers: free credit freezes. According to CNNMoney, Congress was pressured to make freezes free after 2017’s Equifax breach exposed the personal information of more than 146 million Americans.

While a credit monitoring company alerts you of suspicious activity, a credit freeze actually prevents a credit bureau from releasing any of your personal information—to a legitimate source or otherwise—making the credit freeze the only true way to protect your personal information. However, until now, consumers have had to pay a fee to place and lift a credit freeze—a fee that needs to be paid at all three credit bureaus.

According to WalletHub, credit freezes were already free for fraud victims, and several states had also made them free. However, under the new legislation—which was expected to go into effect about four months after the bill was signed—placing, lifting and permanently removing credit freezes will be free for all consumers no matter where they live. The bill will also require consumer rating companies to fulfill your request within one business day when made online or over the phone, and within three business days if requested by mail.

What will the larger implications of free credit freezes be? The experts at WalletHub expect a decline in credit-card applications. While the new law probably won’t impact major borrowing events, such as buying a car or a home, the extra step of having to lift a credit report freeze before applying for a loan or line of credit may be enough of a roadblock to prevent some consumers from applying for a new credit card, they say.

Need to freeze your credit? Visit each credit agency’s website (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) and access their freeze page. You’ll be given a PIN that will allow you to remove the freeze in the future.

7 Safety Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Like most homeowners, you probably have your water heater strapped down and you flush out the gutters every spring. But there are many other tips that make a big difference in terms of both safety and thriftiness.

The home safety watchdogs at FamilyHandyman.com offer seven tips to start with:

Monitor furnace filters. Clogged furnace filters cost you in both efficiency and higher bills. For peak performance, replace them every 30 – 60 days. Keep track of when you replaced them last by buying several and labeling them by month.

Shut off the water when on vacation. Every insurance adjuster hears it: “We left town on Friday and returned Sunday evening to find thousands of dollars in water damage.” Before going on vacation, turn off the main water valve. In less than a minute, you can eliminate the most common cause of home damage. 

Don’t leave the remote in your car. Anyone who breaks into your car can grab the remote for easy access to your garage, and the registration card in your glove box gives the thief your address. Ditch the remote on your visor and buy a keychain model you can take with you every time you leave the car.

Think about replacing pipes. If you have galvanized steel pipes in your home and low water flow at faucets, chances are the pipes are to blame. Galvanized pipe is prone to mineral buildup, which eventually chokes off the water flow. Replacing the pipes is the best cure, especially if you live in an older home.

Check the breaker first. When a light goes out or a switch doesn’t work, check the main electrical panel for a tripped circuit breaker. Look for a switch that’s not in line with the others. Flip it to the ‘off’ position and then back on.

Get low flow showerheads. Showerheads are heavy water users and major energy eaters, since 70 percent of the water used is heated. By reducing hot-water consumption, a low-flow unit can pay for itself in just one month. Many of today’s water-efficient showerheads now provide a high-flow feel.

Install ceiling fans. Moving air increases evaporation from your skin and helps keep you comfortable at higher thermostat settings.