5 Home Upgrades That Are Worth the Cost

1. Painting

Painting is an easy way to quickly update the ambiance and style of a room. In the transformation below, adding a light color and changing the trim to white drastically brightens the rooms.Likewise, painting the exterior of a home can improve the facade and curb appeal. The painted brick home pictured below gives off more of a modern feel with the new color.

2. Landscaping

We’ve talked about the benefits of landscaping before, as the investment goes a long way in elevating the look of the home. Below, overgrown landscaping blocks this home’s outer beauty, but the curb appeal is drastically increased with new plants that perfectly frame the home and it’s stunning features. The front of your home is the first thing people see, so any landscaping or exterior improvements will be worthwhile.

3. New Windows

New windows can benefit in two ways: a decor boost and better insulation (which can reduce your energy bills!). If you have a room in your home facing drafts, new panes are well worth the investment. Energy efficient windows can eliminate these drafts and save you money. If you’re investing in new windows, don’t forget that they can boost the style of the home too. We love the chic upgrade to the windows in the transformation below.

4. Kitchen Appliances

To be honest, any kitchen remodeling is a great investment. Homeowners consistently see great returns on improvements to their kitchen, from new cabinets to new appliances. Professionals urge a sense of caution though, don’t splurge on high-end appliances for a smaller property as you may not see the return. Similarly, it can be dangerous to mix high-end features with cost-effective features that do not pair well together (i.e. nice new cabinets will pair better with marble than a laminate!)

5. Adding a Deck or Patio

A well done outdoor space such as a deck or patio can be seen as an outdoor extension of the home and add appeal for potential buyers. If a deck is too costly, a simple patio or pergola can still add to the personality of your backyard or outdoor area.

Is Your Home to Blame for Winter Allergies?

We usually think of allergies in the spring, where the blooming environment brings tortuous pollen with the warmer weather. But allergies exist throughout all seasons, including the winter. While you don’t have outdoor allergens during the winter, there are several indoor allergens that could be culprits of your sneezing or stuffy nose. Below we’re sharing some common causes of winter allergies and how to tackle them!

Dust Mites

Dust Mites are one of the most common indoor allergens and they generally thrive in humid rooms and in temperatures of 60 to 85 degrees. To avoid excess dust mites, clean, vacuum, and dust regularly! Wash your sheets and linens weekly in hot water to remove any dust mites. If you find that dust is lingering, check out GroomedHome’s awesome dusting hacks for super thorough dusting!

Pets

Pets that shed can add to indoor allergies and further agitate the air quality in your home. Bathe and groom your furry friends regularly and be sure to vacuum often!

Dry Indoor Air

Turning on your heat will create drier air and will dry up your nose and skin! If the dry air is particularly irritating, try adding a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Mold

Indoor mold tends to grow in damp and dark environments (such as basements) and can cause allergies and illness. Treat mold with a cleaner containing bleach and consult a professional for larger patches of mold. BUT it could also be mildew! Check out our post on Mold vs. Mildew and how to eliminate both!

What is a Short Sale?

What is a short sale? A short sale is an alternative to a foreclosure, the legal process where a lender seeks to recover the balance of a loan. In a short sale, the lender and borrower agree on a payoff of less than the balance due on the loan.

Investopedia defines a short sale as: “Any sale of real estate that generates proceeds that are less than the amount owed on the property. A real estate short sale occurs when the lender and borrower decide that selling the property and absorbing a moderate loss is preferable to having the borrower default on the loan. It is therefore an alternative to foreclosure.”

While being an alternative to a foreclosure, there are downsides, such as negative consequences to your credit score. Credit Sesame has laid out the details and pros and cons in the infographic below:

(Image via creditsesame.com).

The 8 Best Ways to Get Your Kitchen Ready for Thanksgiving

Edit: We originally posted this guide for Thanksgiving, but are sharing it again for the winter holidays!

Thanksgiving is a time to be with family and friends and to be grateful for our bounty.

…It can also mean freaking out about how to fit everything in the oven, where to find that missing ingredient and how to get everything on the table on time. Prepare as we may, last minute fiascoes do happen. However, to help prevent extra last minute drama, we’ve prepared a list of the best ways to get your kitchen ready for Thanksgiving.

Make sure you have enough plates and silverware for all of your guests.
In the days prior to Thanksgiving, review your guest list and make sure that you have enough plates and utensils for your guests. Don’t forget to factor in children and any steak knives.

Check your ingredients.
How many times have you said, “Oh, I know I have cinnamon in my pantry” only to find out later that you only have one of the three teaspoons you need. When planning your menu, be sure to thoroughly check the ingredients you own to make sure that you have enough of everything. No one enjoys multiple trips to the grocery store during the holidays.

Clean out your fridge.
If you’re hosting, clean out your fridge prior to the arrival of guests. Make enough space to have sufficient room for dishes relatives may bring, plus room for leftovers, even if you can pawn off the extra pie. Don’t forget to factor in space needed for beverages such as soda and wine. It may be helpful to have a cooler set up for drinks.

Don’t forget the ice!
Speaking of drinks, don’t forget to have enough ice on hand. Check your ice maker or buy extra ice if you are expecting a larger number of guests.

Clean your oven and check your burners.
Before your oven sees turkey, stuffing, vegetables andpie, make sure that you’ve thoroughly cleaned your oven to keep everything sanitary and to avoid having anything burning. However, be sure to clean your oven a few days in advance if you are using a preset self-cleaning cycle. This is due to the high heat during the self-clean that can sometimes trigger issues, particularly with older ovens.
If you have a range, you should wipe it down as well. And don’t forget to check each of your burners a few days prior to the cooking- you may need to use all of them!

Get that duster out!
Make sure you’ve dusted in high places and on windows… just in case your in-laws look.

Have your menu ready and schedule your oven time for each dish.
Have a plan for what needs to go in the oven and when so that there is not as much last minute scrambling. It may also be helpful to consider the pan size of each dish, so that you can best utilize your oven space.

Have a serving plan and a seating plan.
Will guests be in the kitchen and dining room? Will you have guests serve themselves in the kitchen, or will everything be brought to the table? Make a game plan for your serving and seating arrangements ahead of time to avoid last minute scrambling.

Buying a Home in North Carolina – Breaking it Down

Buying a Home in North Carolina

Breaking It Down

Congratulations on your decision to find a home! We know that the buying process can seem daunting, so we’ve broken down the process of buying a home in North Carolina below!

Commit to your decision to purchase a home and what kind of home you want.
Before meeting with an agent, have a list ready of what kind of property you are looking for and know your budget. How many bedrooms do you want? Are you looking for an open floor plan? Do you have a preferred neighborhood? Having this information prepared will help your agent to find you great home options.

Prequalify.
To purchase a home you will likely need to prequalify for a loan to determine how much you can afford to borrow. Your loan will be based on your income and credit standing. Prequalifying will help you finalize your budget and plan for your home financing.

Search for a home.
Once you have prequalified and signed a real estate disclosure, you will work with your agent to view properties based on your budget and home preferences.

Submit an offer.
When you are ready to make an offer, you will work with your real estate agent to submit an offer to purchase. The offer to purchase is a document that needs to be signed by both the buyer and the seller. The executed copy of this document will note the final purchase price, the due diligence date and closing date. There may be some back and forth revisions of to the offer to purchase, should this occur, your agent will be the one to negotiate on your behalf.

Sign the accepted offer and begin the under contract process.
Once your offer is accepted and the offer to purchase is signed by the buyer and the seller, you will officially be under contract and the offer to purchase will be considered executed. Your closing date is usually 30 to 45 days after your offer is accepted.

Once you are under contract, your due diligence period begins. This the time for the buyer to thoroughly investigate the property, which can include reviewing property documents, procuring insurance and walking the property.

Get an appraisal and inspection of the home.
The lender will order an appraisal once you are under contract. The appraisal is required by the bank and the process entails the appraiser inspecting the property for any improvements or deficiencies that may lower the value of the home. The appraiser also takes the location, square footage, and selling price of similar properties into consideration. The appraisal allows the lender to finalize how much to lend, what type of loan will be provided, the down payment requires, and what the interest rate will be.The buyer can also hire a home inspector to assess the overall condition of the home. Typically, the home inspection focuses on the property systems, such as the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. The inspector will determine if any repairs need to be made and if there are any health concerns.

Secure the title and title insurance.
Your agent will help you select a closing attorney who will perform a title search and secure the property title. Unless a warranty is offered by the seller, you will likely want to obtain homeowner insurance. Your agent can help you select a company to protect your home.

Meet with the closing attorney & close on your home!
Once the above steps have been completed, you will meet with the closing attorney and complete the final paperwork to transfer the deed for the property. Your agent will be with you at closing to review the documents and ensure that no errors have been made. Once the closing statement and deed are signed, you will receive the keys to your new home! Congratulations, you are officially a homeowner!

Ready to buy a home in the Wilmington, NC area? Find out more about our agents here!

Our Favorite Fall Decorating Ideas

There’s nothing we love more than celebrating the arrival of fall with sweaters, hot coffee, pumpkin everything, and of course, fall decorations. We love coming home to a house highlighting the beautiful golden and maroon hues of fall and the rustic feel of a cool autumn day. There are so many creative ways to showcase the season and below we’re sharing some of favorite fall decorating ideas.

Corn Stalks

(Image via Homes.com)

Corn stalks are an elegant addition to any home entrance! We love them paired with a bold pot or with a seasonal pop of color like this fall garland above. Plus, their height is a great way to provide a grandiose feel.

Flowers in Pumpkin Pots

(Image via Iheartnaptime.com)

Iheartnaptime has a great DIY for pumpkin flower pots using faux pumpkins, however you can carve out a real pumpkin as well. We think having several pumpkin pots lining the stairs to a home entrance would provide a great fall look, but we also love them paired with an urn, as shown above.

White Pumpkins and Light Color Palettes

(Image via designdininganddiapers.com)

We can’t get enough of the simple yet modern look that white pumpkins and cool tones provide. Pair with wood pallets or simple plants and you have a clean and stylish spread.

…Or White Pumpkins and A Contrasting Tone

(Image via centsationalgirl.com)

Another great pairing for white pumpkins is a contrasting tone or tones. We love the regal feel Centsational Girl created with the purple hues above. White pumpkins would also pair well with some deep red flowers and plants. You could even do a black and red theme for a modern Halloween or gothic inspired look.

Burlap Wreaths

(Image via OurSentiments on Etsy)

This wreath is easy enough to DIY and provides a fun shabby chic look. We love the monogram added here, but this wreath could also fit the season with faux fall leaves or flowers. This wreath could also be dressed up for the winter holidays with Christmas tree bulbs, pine, or faux poinsettias.

What are your favorite ways to decorate for fall? Is there one decorating essential you can’t live without? Share with us below or on Facebook! And be sure to tag us in any fall inspired decor on Instagram!