SkyFive Properties Blog

According to US News and World Report, 2019 is a good time to put your house on the market. New buyers are entering the market. Interest rates are still low.

Several sources recommend considering a house update to increase market appeal. Declutter, deep clean, and make the house feel open and inviting.

What House Update Will Increase the Marketability of Your Home?

Home improvements add value to your home whether you plan to sell it or to improve your quality of life. Green upgrades can create an instant return on your investment.

Remodeling the Kitchen

According to a recent survey, 80% of homebuyers put the kitchen in the top 3 most important spaces in the house. According to HGTV, kitchen remodels should provide a 70% return on your investment.

Be sure the kitchen updates don’t make it more modern than the rest of the. Simple, low cost upgrades can go a long way.

Put a fresh coat of paint in modern colors on the walls. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models that are Energy Star-rated. This future cost savings appeals to buyers.

You may consider a new faucet if the current one is old, rusty, or outdated. Faucets can be expensive, so shop carefully.

Upgrade the Bathroom

If your house only has one bathroom, you may check the cost/benefit of adding a second bathroom. A half-bath will need 18 square feet.

You can also upgrade bathrooms with fresh paint in light colors. Replace old-looking light fixtures and faucets. Clean the bathroom and remove mold and mildew stains.

If you shop at resale stores, you may be able to find toilets, sinks, counters, showers, or tubs at reasonable prices that could modernize your bathroom.

Add Energy-Efficient Windows

Energy Star-rated windows can save up to $500 in heating and cooling cost each year. The average cost of window replacement is approximately $10,000. Yet, when you look at potential cost savings over time, this can be a good return on investment.

More Ways to Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Add an extra layer of insulation to your attic for approximately $200. This could result in a $2,500 savings per year in utility charges. Likewise, sealing cracks around windows, doors, and other places in your home can increase its energy efficiency.

Consider replacing light fixtures with ones that use compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFL fixtures use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and put out 75% less heat.

Programmable thermostats decrease your energy use by maximizing the air conditioning and heating for times when you are home. When you are away from home, you can program the thermostat to a more economical temperature.

Finally, consider a high-efficiency water heater. Experienced homebuyers will recognize this detail as another cost saving effort.

Replace the Roof

The potential buyer sees the roof first. If the roof doesn’t appear in great shape, this put the buyer ill-at-ease. It doesn’t matter how great the inside of the house is if the roof leaks when it rains.

Consider replacing the roof if needed. Then you can promote this as a positive selling point. When you are ready to find a roofer, click here to receive an estimate and compare local companies.

Is It Time to Find a New Home to Fit Your Needs?

Our company provides expertise for purchasing and selling real estate. We work with residential, multi-family, land, and commercial properties.

We can help you increase marketability with a house update. Our staff can provide design services and resources to meet your goals.

Real estate is our passion. Explore our site today and let us help make your dreams come true.

Your home is still beautiful, but it’s antiquated. The appliances are old, the siding is faded, and the shingles are starting to curl. For this reason, you’re planning a remodel.

Now all that’s left to do is to find a reputable home remodeling company. The only problem is: you don’t know how.

That’s where we come in. Below, we’re going to review the 7 key questions to ask before hiring a home remodeling contractor. Let’s go!

Questions to Ask a Home Remodeling Contractor

Home remodeling contractors run the gamut from highly-skilled experts to no-skill frauds. To find a good one, you’ve got to do some research and you’ve got to ask some questions. Those questions are as follows.

1. How Experienced are You?

First, you need to ask your prospective contractor about his or her experience in the profession. In most cases, length of experience correlates to quality, particularly if said experience equals decades.

However, not only should you be asking about the length of experience, but the type of experience as well. See, some contractors specialize in certain areas of home remodeling, such as windows, roofs, siding, etc. You need to be sure that your contractor is experienced in the type of service you require.

We recommend hiring a contractor with at least 5 years of experience. If a contractor has been able to make a living for 5 years, odds are that he or she is providing a worthwhile service.

2. Are You Licensed?

In many US states, home remodeling contractors are required by law to obtain licenses in order to perform work on existing residential structures. If you live in one of these states, you need to ask prospective contractors whether they’re licensed.

Wondering how you can test the legitimacy of a specific contractor’s license? Most states have license lookup databases that are open to the public online.

3. Do You Have Insurance?

Not only should your home remodeling contractor have a license (in the appropriate states), but he or she should also have insurance. Utilizing the services of an uninsured contractor is exceedingly risky, as — in the event of damage to your home or injury to a sub-contractor — you could be held legally liable.

The two types of insurance you need to look out for include general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. If your prospective contractor can’t provide proof of these insurances, you need to look elsewhere.

4. Do You Secure Permits for Your Clients?

Another thing you’ll want to discuss with your prospective contractor is whether or not he or she secures construction permits for his or her clients. Unfortunately, not all contractors do this, leaving the often stressful and time-consuming task to the homeowners.

While the choice is totally up to you, we recommend hiring a contractor who will, indeed, secure permits for his or her clients. Not only because it will save time and stress, but because experienced contractors will know exactly which types of permits to secure.

5. How Long Will My Project Take?

Home remodeling contractors work on different timelines. While some can finish a project in just a few hours, others can take a full work day and sometimes even several full work days. For this reason, you need to ask your prospective contractor about how long he or she expects your project to take.

If you’re paying hourly, this is even more important, as the longer your contractor takes, the more money you’re going to have to pay. Plus, let’s be honest, who wants someone performing noisy work on their house for long periods of time?

Any experienced contractor will have a general idea as to how long different projects take. If you can’t get a straight answer, or if the time required far exceeds the time needed for other contractors, you should look elsewhere.

6. Who Will Be Working on My House?

Odds are, if you’re utilizing home remodeling services, you’re going to have more than one person working on your house. It’s your responsibility to find out just who these people will be.

In some cases, contractors will have their own teams. In these cases, team members tend to work on the same projects day in and day out and are required by law to be covered under the contractor’s insurance.

However, in other cases, contractors bring in sub-contractors. While this isn’t always a bad thing, it can be. If your prospective contractor uses sub-contractors, you need to be sure that they’re covered under insurance.

If your contractor’s workers aren’t covered under insurance, you need to find a different contractor.

7. What Does a Typical Workday Look Like for You?

Another thing to ask your prospective contractor is what his or her typical workday looks like. This is important because it allows you to determine the type of effect your contractor will have on your house during the project. Considering you live in your house, it will have an effect on you as well.

Ask about starting and stopping times, ask about noise, ask about methods of working, and ask about your responsibilities as the owner of the home. You and your contractor need to be on the same page so that neither of you is stepping on the other’s toes.

This is a great opportunity to get to know your contractor as well. Developing a working relationship is important because it enables you to learn more about the design and remodeling processes.

8. What are Your Rates?

It’s impossible to know what a contractor will charge unless you ask that contractor about his rates. Highly successful and long-working contractors will typically charge more than newbies, as they have the clout, the experience, and expertise needed to do so.

Regardless of who you’re talking to, you need to ask for an estimate. Any contractor worth his or her salt will give you one. If your prospective contractor won’t give you an estimate, you shouldn’t utilize his or her services.

In Need of Some Home Remodeling Tips?

While your home remodeling contractor can help you with the design of your house, you might be searching for some home remodeling tips on your own. If so, you’re in the right place.

Tasteful Space has a bevy of home remodeling articles for you peruse. Check out our home remodeling articles now!

When you’re in need of a quick home sale, how do you start to make that happen? You might need to split the proceeds from a divorce or an estate and are under pressure to get the house sold.

There are a few ways you can sell your house quickly. It just requires a little thinking outside the box.

How can you sell your house fast? Read on to find out.

1. Staging for Maximum Impact

If you want to sell your house fast, you need to make sure that it looks sharp and presentable. Did you know that almost half of all home buyers consider how the house was staged when they’re house shopping?

You need to make sure that the inside and outside of the house are appealing. Clean up any weeds in the yard, make the walkway look welcoming, and give color to the yard with various plants and flowers.

The inside of the home has to be clean, clutter-free and updated. Anything with lime green or hot pink may turn off buyers. Remember that everything has to come together inside the home, the colors, the lighting, furniture, and décor. It needs to wow the buyers right away.

2. Timing Matters

Another key to selling your home fast is to time the sale right. You may have to wait a little bit to make sure that people are actually looking for homes when you’re getting ready to sell.

If you need to sell the house and it’s the middle of winter, you have to weigh whether or not you should list the home now. Most people will buy a home in the warmer months. If you decide to list it in the winter, the home could sit on the market longer and bring down the value of the home.

3. Work with an Agent

You should consider working with an agent rather than trying to sell the house on your own. Let’ face it, you’re probably not an expert in negotiations and contracts.

You’ll want to get someone on your side who can tell you when to sell, what your home is worth, and how fast you can realistically sell it.

They also have access to other agents and listing services to put your home in front of as many potential buyers as possible.

4. Sell Your Home for Cash

If you don’t have the time for steps 1-3, your other option is to sell your home for cash. You’ll want to find a “we buy houses company” that can buy your house outright and fast.

There’s no waiting for a loan to get approved since it’s a cash transaction. It will close faster and you’ll be able to get your money sooner.

How to Sell Your House Fast

When you’re in a hurry to sell a house, you need to know how to sell your house fast. If you miss any of the steps listed here, you could be disappointed with the amount the home gets or it takes much longer than you want it to.

Do you want more great home buying tips? Check the blog often for the latest real estate trends.

There are 10.4 million residential pools in America.

The American dream is still alive and well with many people desiring to own their own home. For the aspiring (and existing) homeowners, having a pool in the backyard is an important milestone.

A swimming pool in the home is the perfect spot for pool parties and sunbathing. Again, a quick dip on a hot day can be quite refreshing.

While many people desire a swimming pool, they may not quite understand the work that goes into maintaining a pool. This article will provide insights into swimming pool maintenance.

Circulation

Without circulation, you probably would not have a functional swimming pool.

A pool’s circulation is what enables the water to move towards the filtration point in addition to helping spread the chemicals in the water.

Your pool will be fitted with a pump and a filter at a minimum. The pump will suck water out of the pool which will then be directed towards the filter.

Once it hits the filter, the water will be cleaned by eliminating any particles that are dirtying it. The clean water is then pumped back into the pool using a jet.

As long as your circulation is working fine then you will rarely experience any cloudy pool water or have algae showing up.

When you’re setting your pool up, you will need to install a multi-directional jet. The feature will be essential in your swimming pool maintenance as it will reduce dead areas.

These are the points where there is poor water circulation. While they can at times be unavoidable, you will still have to clean them manually.

Your multi-directional jet can help you point circulation towards these areas to reduce the amount of cleaning necessary. Some of the dead areas in a pool include:

● The area under the skimmers
● The area in and around the pool steps
● The space behind the ladders
● Any crack, crevice or crease

Once you set your pool up, you will need to brush the dead areas at least once every seven days.

If you don’t, you will allow debris and algae (or other microorganisms) to accumulate. In the end, your pool will become unhygienic.

Should you be unable to personally brush when necessary, you can always hire a pool cleaning service company to do it for you.

The Pumping Mechanism

For you to keep all the water in the pool clean it needs to run through the pump at least once per day.

Ideally, you should be running you pump 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But not everyone’s equipment or budget can accommodate that.

An effective compromise here is to let the pump run for ten to 12 hours daily. That will be decent enough time to circulate the water and keep it clean.

One neat trick with pool pumping is that you don’t have to stick to a fixed schedule as long as you pump for the required hours.

Therefore, you can choose to pump during off-peak hours when your electricity provider charges less.

Another approach you can use is to spread the hours throughout the day instead of pumping it back-to-back.

Cleaning the Pool

Your swimming pool will become dirty due to leaves and other foliage, frogs, insects, and contaminants from those who use it. Bacteria can also contaminate your pool.

When cleaning your pool you should begin by removing any visible debris on the surface by skimming. Empty the skimmer net away from the pool.

Once you’re done skimming you will need to vacuum it. Turn the nozzles of the jet down to reduce ripples so that you can see the floor clearly.

When you start vacuuming, move slowly in overlapping parallel lines on the pool floor. If your pool is too wide to clean in one trip then vacuum half of it at a time.

As you’re vacuuming, keep an eye on your hose. If it starts floating then that can mean there’s a puncture in the line or that the filter is full.

Once you’re done with the vacuuming, brush the sides and other dead areas with a nylon brush fitted on the vacuum pole. If the pool floor is made of concrete, then use a stainless steel brush instead.

A worthwhile tip for clearing cloudy pool water is to use flocculant. Although it does the job, it is a short term measure until you can resolve the root cause of the cloudiness.

Getting the Chemicals Right

Cleaning your pool isn’t just a matter of skimming, vacuuming and brushing. Those processes are necessary, but if you only rely on them, your pool will turn into a dark lagoon.

A chemical sanitizer is what keeps your pool from becoming dark due to accumulated contaminants.

Chlorine is the most recognizable stabilizer, but there are others you can use like Bromine, for example.

Before you add in the chemicals, you need to know your water’s composition. Figure that out, and you will know the correct amount and type of chemicals to use.

A water testing kit is, therefore, an indispensable tool for any pool owner in regard to determining their water composition.

There are three things you need to know so that you can treat your pool properly.

They include:

● The pH levels which tell you how acidic or basic the water is
● The level of the sanitizer
● Alkalinity which works as a pH buffer helping prevent huge acidity or basicity levels

Always test the water first to determine these three things before you add any chemicals.

You can also add pool shock to compliment the sanitizer. Add pool shock only at night as the sun will eat up the chlorine before it can be effective.

Run the pump for eight hours after adding pool shock for optimal circulation.

Learn What Maintaining a Pool Takes

Owning a home with a pool is a dream for many Americans. While a swimming pool in your back yard has many benefits, it is not without its upkeep.

It is important to know what goes into maintaining a pool so that you can prepare adequately for it.

Are you looking to buy a home? Talk to a property expert about what it takes to get a pool for your new house.

Did you know that in the U.S. alone, the total length of all paved roads combined is a whopping 2.6 million miles? That’s almost 105 times the Equatorial circumference of the earth, which is only 24,901 miles!

That’s a lot of pavement, almost 95% of which use asphalt as the top-most surface. After all, asphalt is very hard, strong, and durable. It’s also quite flexible that it can accommodate flaws in the underlying layers of the ground.

This doesn’t mean that they’re easy to mix and lay down on your own though. It’s always best to hire a paving contractor if you need to install a pavement.

Granted, hiring paving professionals will make your project costs go up. But the following reasons should be enough to make you realize how worthy the extra cost is.

1. Prevent Construction Hazards

In 2017, the private industry reported a shocking total of 4,674 worker fatalities. What’s more, over 20% of those fatal accidents were in the construction sector alone!

Falls and getting struck by an object are the top reasons for these accidents. Many also resulted from getting electrocuted or caught in or between machines.

Either way, all these points to the many hazards that construction workers deal with at work. These are already professionals, so imagine what can happen to someone inexperienced.

That said, your own safety is the main reason you should hire paving professionals. They have the skills, training, and experience to keep paving accidents at bay.

2. High-Quality Results Delivered

When hiring a paving constructor, you are much more likely to see high-quality results. These include a pavement that has a stable foundation and proper drainage. They’ll also build professional paving that sits on top of a solid subgrade and stronger base.

Not familiar with the terms “solid subgrade” and “aggregate base”? Then that’s all the more reason you’d want to work with professionals instead.

3. Timely Completion of Project

Timely project completion is another of the top benefits of professional paving. Think about it. If you were to rent or buy your own paving equipment, you need to first learn how to operate them.

Understanding the correct use of paving machines alone can already take up a lot of your time. Whereas professionals already know how to operate these machines in a safe manner. Meaning, they can get to building your pavement project right away — and finish it faster than if you do it on your own.

4. Reduced Liability

So long as you work with a reputable paving contractor, then you don’t have to worry about liabilities. That’s because licensed paving contractors are fully insured and bonded. They also ensure all their workers carry worker’s compensation.

All these give you peace of mind knowing that in case of an accident, you won’t be responsible.

5. Implementation of Only the Best Paving Practices

Experienced contractors use the best practices to build and install solid, stable pavement. They know that high-quality materials are key to a high-quality surface. They also ensure that the bottom-most layer of the ground is properly compacted.

6. Backed by a Warranty

The most reputable paving professionals are always confident of their top-notch work. But they also know that the characteristics of high-quality pavement aren’t always visible. That’s why they back up their work with extensive warranties.

Hire a Paving Contractor for the Best Project Results

There you have it, six of the top reasons to hire a paving contractor instead of laying out your own pavement. Remember, it’s your own safety on the line.

Plus, highly-experienced paving professionals will get the work done for you much faster. That means you can enjoy your super strong and stable pavement ASAP!

Looking for more ways to improve or maintain your property? Then be sure to check out and bookmark our site’s blog section!

Did you know that the flooring in your home can have a huge effect on its resale value?

Pretty much any major change that you make to your home is going to have at least some effect on what you’ll get when you decide to sell. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make renovations, though.

Most things you do will improve the resale value, but it’s good to know what won’t so you can avoid putting money into major projects that are going to hurt it. Flooring can go either way. In this post, we’re going to tell you which kinds of flooring will affect the resale value of your home, both positively and negatively.

When you’re done reading this, you’ll know whether or not you should rip up that linoleum in the kitchen. Let’s dig in.

Which Kinds of Flooring Will Affect Resale Value?

There are many factors that inform this discussion, personal preference being the most important. You’ll also need to take climate into account, as well as what typically goes in different rooms. Hint: If you want to make money on your flooring, don’t cover up the hardwood in your bathrooms with carpeting.

Wood

As you might have guessed, wood flooring is the way to go in your home. It’s got the best return on investment because it’s durable, it looks good, and everyone loves it.

The only downside to getting wood floors in your home is the cost per square foot and the installation costs. However, experts say that wood floors can increase the value of a home by nearly 3%.

Some woods are more sought after than others. Oak and walnut are popular in most regions and thus, cost the most.

Porcelain, Stone, and Marble Tile

In certain climates, wood isn’t always the best answer for your home. Hot and humid places like Florida or east Texas make having wood floors tough. Because of the humidity, wood can warp and grow mold.

As a result, in these areas, porcelain, stone, and marble tile take precedent. All of these materials are quite attractive to buyers, but the sheer cost of the materials and installation are going to lower your ROI.

Porcelain ranges anywhere from $18-$32 per square foot, depending on who’s installing it. If done well, it can easily be the best flooring option for resale.

Stone tile costs a bit less, but it’s a specific look that not every buyer is going to love. Marble tile can cost as much as $44 per square foot and the potential maintenance may be too much for some buyers.

Carpet

Carpet is considerably cheaper than other forms of flooring, but for that reason, most buyers will be turned off by it. If you’ve got carpet in your home now, consider removing it and going with one of the cheaper tiles or wood before selling. Even though it’s more work now, it could increase the value of your home.

Make Sure Your Flooring Makes Sense

The different kinds of flooring in your home shouldn’t be its best feature. If you’re aiming to sell a low-to-mid priced home, then don’t expect to make extra money because you’ve put marble tile in every room.

If you’ve got a large upscale home, then your marble tile might help you get a few extra bucks. The bottom line is that Americans love wood flooring and they’ll pay extra for a home with it already installed, so pulling up the carpet in the living room might not be a bad idea in the short and long run.

When it’s freezing cold with blizzard conditions, you probably wouldn’t go outside without a hat and coat. Noone’s going to force you to wear them. It just makes sense to stay protected.

Think of homeowners insurance in a similar way. It’s there to protect you and your home. Is homeowners insurance required by law? Here’s what you need to know.

Homeowners Insurance and Lenders

Homeowners insurance differs from car insurance because it isn’t a legal requirement. But, if your home is mortgaged, your lender will almost always want proof that you at least have a basic homeowners insurance policy.

Why? It’s all about risk. If your bank is lending you money, it needs to be sure the asset you’re buying is protected. Should something happen to your home then they’ll want the security of knowing that you’ll be able to take care of things.

For many people, their home is an investment as well as a place to live. It makes sense to make sure that you’ll be covered in case of theft or fire, for example.

That said, not all homeowners insurance policies are equal. It’s very important to sit down and make a list of the things you’d like to be covered for. Check the small print to make sure your policy meets your needs.

Standard Cover

Insurers will usually cover your home against fire, certain weather disasters, theft, and vandalism. This would then allow you to get the house repaired or rebuilt.

Remember that maintenance repairs would not normally be covered. So, if your drains get blocked or, if some roof tiles need replacing due to wear and tear, you’d need to pay for these yourself.

If the area you’re living in is prone to flooding then you may need additional insurance. You should also check to see if extra structures like garages and their contents would be covered.

Personal Liability

A basic policy should cover you and those who live in your home against liability. Let’s say someone stumbles and injures themselves in your house. They could well sue. Liability insurance would protect you against the costs involved.

Most policies will have deductibles. That means you would have to pay a certain amount of any claim. You should always check to see what these amounts are. The higher the deductible the cheaper the policy tends to be.

Your Possessions

It’s wise to ensure that your personal possessions are covered by homeowners insurance. If you have something very valuable then you will more than likely have to declare it when you take out the policy.

It’s a good idea to photograph your possessions and keep any receipts so that you have a record in case you need to make a claim. Some policies will cover things like bikes and laptops if they’re lost or stolen when you’re outside the home.

Is Homeowners Insurance Required?

Your home should be your safe haven. Is homeowners insurance required? If you want to sleep better at night then the simple answer is, ‘Yes.’ You’ll be safe in the knowledge that your home is protected should anything untoward happen.

Continue reading our blog for more homeowner tips about how often to replace your roof and energy solutions for those who want to stay green.

When you want to modernize your living space, professional home remodeling is the best solution. You don’t have to bother doing the complex designing yourself. Working with an experienced and professional team gives you the convenience to stay within your budget.

There are certain benefits you get from hiring a professional home remodeler. This post details the advantages you get when you decide to hire a professional to work on your home.

Here are six reasons why you should use a home remodeling service.

1. A Professional Home Remodeler Saves you Time

Doing the work yourself or hiring a professional is a big decision.

Leading professional home remodelers exceed the project needs of their customers and saves them time. If you don’t have experience using the latest innovative technologies, techniques for home improvement projects, or using the right materials required for your projects, hiring an experienced contractor is a smart choice.

These professionals work quickly on projects and they also specialize in performing arcon design build projects for customers.

2. Home Remodelers are Experienced

Seasoned professional contractors possess vast experience working on home renovation projects. In addition, they will also have a background of working on projects that are similar to yours. Even if you’re in need of a customized project, a professional knows how to use the best materials for the job.

3. Access to Skilled Experts

In the construction industry, you have access to a quality design team that delivers flawless results. From bathroom rejuvenations to kitchen rejuvenations and home additions, you can expect good results. Hiring skilled professionals give you the confidence that you’re making a smart investment to rejuvenate your home.

4. They Specialize in Safety

Safety is the top priority for a reputable and professional home remodeler. Contractors have knowledge of OSHA regulations, local and international codes, and maintaining a safe work environment. They also focus on having the work safely performed to prevent injuries.

5. Professionals Respect your Home

A home improvement project leaves your home with lots of sawdust, dirt, debris and other annoying clutter to clean up. As a homeowner, you want assurance that you’re not responsible to remove all the mess. Once the work is complete, rest assured that a professional will not leave your home messy.

6. Save on Expensive Costs

Spending money is a significant aspect for any home improvement project. Two essential factors involved in home improvement projects include buying quality materials and innovative supplies. You can pay for these expenses, but the job you perform could be poorly executed.

A quality professional gives you the knowledge that your money will get spent in a smart manner. Saving on overall costs is an important reason to hire a professional that delivers a service that fits your budget.

Would you Like to Connect with a Professional Contractor?

In conclusion, a professional home remodeler has an eye for detail, so you’re always guaranteed that you will achieve beautiful home renovation results.

If you’re interested in real estate development services, have a look at our site for more information.

Out of the thousands of single family homes in the U.S., 270,000 of them have a patio, while 69,000 have no outdoor features.

Patios are not for everyone, but you can admit that they do bring an excellent finishing to a home. A patio can act as extra storage space for your items or bring you several other benefits.

Just as the backyard became the ultimate entertainment space beyond the dining room walls, the outdoor living space or patio has raised the bar.

The Patio is a Relaxing Area

There’s no better way to unwind a long day or week like relaxing on your patio. The fresh air will bring you more energy and make you feel detoxified. The open space is good for the mind and meditation.

Most homeowners have installed a roofing system in their patio to prevent extreme sun rays. A patio roof reduces the extensive heat from the sun. Find out more about outdoor roofing options that you can install.

A patio is also ideal for nap time. With a good roof, a comfortable sofa and a sofa shawl, the atmosphere will rock you to sleep. Away from all the indoor noise and activities, the patio is the ultimate getaway area.

Add Space to your Home

Whether your home is spacious or not, a patio is an extra space that’ll make your house appear more substantial. Keep in mind that you’ve not only upgraded the size of your home but also the area for use.

Taking your laptop to the patio and working from there is a good change of working environment. Hosting your book club on the patio brings more life and fun to the sessions.

The extra furniture crowding your home can be strategically placed on the patio as a way of decluttering. The patio will act as an extra room for your home. Even without the need to declutter, you can buy furniture for the patio and have it as an extension to the living room.

Add Beauty to your Home

It’s without a doubt that a well decorated or organized patio adds so much beauty and elegance to a home. You can decorate the patio just as you do the indoor area. Some outdoor patio ideas include:

• Adding furniture like tables and sofas
• Using material themes like wood, brass, gold, silver or glass on furniture and decor
• Installing attractive flooring designs like brick floors
• Using carpets, floor rugs and throw pillows
• Install roofs or gazebos on the patio
• Decorating with stylish antiques like beer barrels and furniture
• Planting trees around; either on the ground or in large decorated pots and troughs

You may choose to use a similar design as your living area or take a 180-degree turn and do something more welcoming. Depending on the size of your patio, you may also decide to plant a garden or include a water fountain.

It Adds Value to your Home

If you’re thinking of selling your home and you have a patio, know that the selling price just went up. As earlier mentioned, the patio adds more beauty and space to a home. This means that your home has more features than when you bought it.

Upgrading a house in whatever manner automatically increases its selling price. However, don’t go overboard spending on patio materials. Keep it simple and affordable.

For Entertainment Purposes

Ever held or attended a patio party? They’re lit! Also, they’re somewhat more sophisticated compared to indoor and backyard parties.

You can set up the patio and host a few guests for a party or outdoor hangout. Host a brunch session with friends, or a family’s day out without actually going out.

Nothing’s as good as finding a reason to take out your barbecue grill and show off your grilling skills. Whatever your purpose of entertainment, ensure to plan the best outdoor party ever.

However, take care of all pests (like mosquitoes and cockroaches) before inviting guests. You don’t want to be the guy with a pest infested party.

Cleaning and Maintaining a Patio is Easy

The best part of having a patio is that it’s low in maintenance. If you take precaution during its installation, you’ll have an easy time all through. Some of the precautions include the use of soil sterilizer and a mesh weed screen to keep weeds away from the patio.

As you use the patio to host guests or with your family, higher chances are that it’ll get stained. Whether there are food stains or unknown stains, if you spot one, attend to it immediately.

Since the patio is an open space, it can also receive stains blown from the roadside or the atmosphere. Depending on what stain it is and your type of stone, you can:

• Remove the stains with bleach
• Clean it up with some water, soap and scrub or sponge
• Use a hammer and chisel to remove stuck stains
• Sweep away dirt and debris before they build up and encourage moss growth
• Use a hose to give the patio stones a thorough clean

Another primary precaution is sealing the patio surface. Many homeowners build their patios using patio slabs. These slabs are porous hence absorb water and air, thus encouraging the growth of algae and moss.

To prevent these, you can seal the slabs with a patio sealer or block paving sealer for block surfaces. With a sealer, the patio surface will keep away air and moisture, preventing aging and growth or weeds.

Other features to maintain are the patio roofing system to prevent water leaks and UV rays passing through the roof.

Upgrade your Outdoor Living Space

Don’t abandon your outdoor living space and have it look like no one recognizes its presence. If you’re looking to get creative with interior designing, take your patio on a test run. Decorate it with as much or as little as you want to make your outdoor space stand out.

Are you planning on finding the best home to build your patio facing the most scenic views? Explore our website for home listings

If you are planning to build a new driveway for your home, then you have probably already done the math and understand how much of an investment a driveway is. With this in mind, choosing the right paving contractor for the job is very important.

To help make the best choice, we have outlined 5 important questions you should ask paving contractors before settling with one.

1. For How Long Have You Been in Business as Paving Contractors

When shopping for a paving contractor, it is important to know about the history of your potential hire. A company that has been in the driveway paving business for a good number of years shows that they must be doing something right and have the relevant experience needed for the job.
This does not mean that upcoming local paving contractors cannot do a good job. Paving contractors who have been in business for longer just give a greater sense of assurance.

2. How Can You and Your Team Guarantee the Job

To guarantee a driveway paving job, paving contractors will need to provide you with information relating to:
• The scope of work to be done
• The most important elements of the project
• The possible challenges to be faced during the project
• The timelines for the driveway project
• The responsibilities of the contractor and his team
• The fees and charges summed up in the estimated quote

Experienced commercial paving contractors know their work well enough and should be able to communicate all these aforementioned details effectively. He should also be able to confidently answer your questions on whether there will be any hidden costs after the project is completed.

3. Asphalt or Concrete, Which Is Best

You should ask your potential paving contractor if asphalt or concrete is better for your driveway project. A competent paving contractor should be able to adequately analyze your project, recommend which of the two is better and clearly explain their rationale to you. Also, experience in working with different materials speaks highly of the expertise of a paving contractor.

4. Do You Have A List Of Other Projects You Have Completed In My Area

Seeing is believing, and since it is your money that you will be putting down, you should get a clear picture of what to expect. Paving contractors who can vouch for the work they do should not have an issue with providing a list of projects that they have completed in your area or the neighboring area for you to check out. Do your due diligence, check out the projects previously done and decide if you are satisfied with the handiwork and final looks showcased.

5. Is Your Company Better Business Bureau Accredited

Accreditation from Better Business Bureau goes a long way in guaranteeing the integral and accountable nature of paving contractors. Therefore, it will be in your best interest to consider working only with accredited members. Thanks to the Better Business Bureau, you can check out the rating of paving contractors you are considering working with as well as view their history of filed complaints.

You Are Driveway Ready

The above 5 questions should help you narrow down your options until you have the best paving contractor for the job. They don’t apply only to residential paving contractors. Check out our blog for more tips and information related to the real estate sector.