SkyFive Properties Blog

When searching for commercial premises for your business you may want to lease a property, or for many people, buying can sometimes be the better option as it offers more freedom and flexibility. Whether you’re purchasing or renting a commercial property, there are many factors to consider, including where you want your business to be located, and how much money you can bring to the table, so where to begin?

Start With A List

Write a list of what it is you’re looking for in your business premises. Ask yourself how important is the property size, location layout, facilities, structural requirements, and parking? What are your long-term business plans and how these might affect your choice of business premises? For example, will you want to be expanding shortly or you think you will want to you might want to alter the property, then you need to consider this when looking? Search for a commercial property through a local commercial property agent such as McGraw Commercial Properties, or you can visiting potential areas to see commercial properties for sale or rent or search a commercial property finder. You should check any potential premises against your list of requirements to create a shortlist of the business properties you might want to view.

Do Your Research

Once you have a shortlist, it is essential that you look into long-term forecasts for the location that you are viewing property in. For example, is there anything on the horizon or in planning that may help or hinder property values in the future? If your commercial property decreases in value this could also reduce your business capital; time spent on researching the perfect location for your new business base is never time wasted.

Location, Location, Location

Choosing the right place for your business premises can be a bit of a balancing act. You may want to select an area that is convenient for your customers, employees, and suppliers, but is still affordable. When deciding on the location, you might want to consider factors such as footfall, where competitors are located, delivery restrictions, parking restrictions, and business rates. Think about what the premises are for, and ask yourself key questions such as how many staff will it need to fit? Will clients be coming for meetings regularly? Is this a location where you want to bring your clients to? A central location is often desirable to many; however, if you are spending most of your time dealing with clients remotely, an area set outside of town may be a better and more cost-effective option.

Buy Or Rent a Commercial Property?

You also need to decide whether either buying or renting a commercial property is best for you and your business needs. The advantages of renting business premises include less capital is invested than buying, so it can give you the flexibility to relocate if the premises become unsuitable. Benefits of buying business property include the flexibility to manage or repair the building as you choose, the potential profit from selling the building in the future should the value increase.

Legal Considerations for Commercial Property

There are several legal considerations you need to be aware of when choosing business property. These include planning permission, health, safety and fire regulations, insurances, accessibility, and licenses. It is likely that you will need to pay stamp duty if you purchase the property or if you rent a commercial property you will need to comply with the terms of the lease. Make sure that you speak to solicitor whether you’re buying or leasing business premises.

If you want to design a stunning kitchen, you can achieve wonderful results by having a Calacatta marble countertop as a focal point. Although the process of remodeling a kitchen can be time-consuming, you can simplify the process by considering a few things during the shopping and design process.

Calacatta Slab Characteristics

In order to wow everyone with Calacatta countertops, you’ll need to pick an authentic Calacatta slab. When shopping for this type of marble, ensure that the materials that you’re planning to purchase are sourced from Italy. The search for an ideal slab won’t be easy since Calacatta is a very rare material.

When you find a piece of Calacatta, inspect its characteristics carefully. The most stunning marble slabs have a variety of white and gray color tones. However, there is usually more white elements than gray tones on the marble slab.

Stunning Calacatta marble also has dramatic veining that emphasizes its gray and white effects. The layout of these veins stands out because the thick lines create unique patterns that pop. In some cases, the veins on a Calacatta piece of marble will have light gold and brown undertones.

Flooring Options That Highlight the Marble Counters

A gorgeous kitchen floor can help enhance the entire room and affect the room’s design scheme. The floor you choose should match with your countertops, appliances and cabinets. If you want to upgrade your flooring in order to create a more stylish foundation for the marble countertops, you may want to consider one of the following tile flooring options:

• Marble: Marble is a suitable option if you pick a color that doesn’t clash with the color of your marble counters. If possible, pick a marble floor color that’s lighter or darker than the color of the marble counters. By choosing a unique color you can design a space that pops and ensure that each aspect of the kitchen goes well with one another.

• Ceramic: A ceramic floor can provide style and support underneath your counters. This type of flooring very durable and does extremely well in high traffic areas, such as the kitchen.
• Terrazzo: If you want shiny flooring that will highlight a marble counter’s sheen, terrazzo is a practical and decorative option. Terrazzo will blend nicely in an area that has light or dark marble counters since the material is made from various pieces of marble that are set in concrete.
• Slate: With slate flooring you don’t need to worry about possible scratches or damages. This flooring is very durable and can add an earthy vibe to your kitchen.
• Granite: Since granite is formed from igneous rocks, it has very distinctive qualities. Granite tiles are designed in a variety of colors with different vein and speck patterns, so the process of matching marble cabinets with granite tiles isn’t a hassle.
• Travertine: Travertine is a flooring material with crystallized elements. Although this type of flooring is stylish, it’s not the best option for a kitchen that has heavy traffic since it can easily stain and scratch.
• Limestone: Limestone is another type of tile that’s available in dark and light shades. However, since the surfaces scratch easily, it’s not an ideal choice for a busy cooking environment.

How Marble Counters Can Make an Average Space Elegant

After you have upgraded the floors, you start looking for marble countertops. No matter what type of marble countertop you select, it will make your kitchen a more elegant area due to these qualities:

• A practical surface: When you get a marble countertop, the surfaces will be porous. However, you can seal the porous areas by applying a sealant. After the sealant sets, you can serve drinks on the counters without any risks. If something spills on the marble, the sealant will keep moisture away from the pores on the material so that you can easily wipe up the liquid.
• Mild color tones: A kitchen is stunning when it has designer pieces that blend well in an overall design scheme. Since marble slabs feature earthy tones, they don’t clash with general décor. This means you can make the space pop by arranging colorful flowers in a glass vase on the counter, or you could create a focal point on a counter by lining up several designer jars in the center of the slab.
• Soft patterns: Marble counters stand out near cabinets because the veins in the natural stone have soft patterns that complement the cabinets. If you have a display cabinet, you could arrange the dishes over the marble counters so that people will notice your island and the dishes upon stepping into the space.
• Heat-resistant: When you’re cooking you can place food on marble counters without worrying about damaging the natural stone. If you put a hot pot on a marble surface, the material will handle the heat because the finish is heat-resistant. This characteristic is great if you’re an avid baker because you don’t need to worry at all about a hot dessert running the texture or color of your countertop.

Why Calacatta Marble is Desirable and Pricey

Calacatta is a very popular type of marble because it’s only sold in select stores. When compared to Carrara, a Calacatta marble countertop is a rarer option. If you step into a store and request Carrara marble, you’ll most likely be able to buy it at a reasonable price. However, since Calacatta is a luxury stone, it’s much more difficult to find. Therefore, when retailers offer Calacatta marble it’s usually very pricey due to its exclusiveness.

The overall price of a Calacatta slab varies depending on its patterns and colors. If a marble slab has a lot of veins on it, a supplier will set a reasonable price for the material. Often, the most expensive Calacatta slabs are the ones with the extravagant and original veins.

Calacatta marble isn’t only desirable for its appearance. It’s also trending because it’s very functional for cooking and baking since it’s heat resistant and doesn’t absorb liquids. This type of marble is the perfect fit for a kitchen. It can dramatically enhance your kitchen and make it quickly go from ordinary to gorgeous.

Is it possible to get a home loan with bad credit?

Most people think having bad credit makes it more difficult to get a mortgage. But getting approved for the loan isn’t the difficult part. A much worse difficulty is being stuck with a loan you can’t handle.

It’s more accurate to say that bad credit limits your options for a home loan. And the options you’re left with may be less than ideal, or downright disastrous.

While getting a mortgage with bad credit is possible, it’s not always a good idea. So to help you understand the ins and outs of bad credit home loans, we’ve written you this guide. Read on to learn how to get a mortgage with bad credit, and whether or not you should.

How Will Having Bad Credit Affect Your Home Loan Application?

Your credit ranking is a score of how good you are at borrowing money. Basically, it tells lenders how well you can be trusted with any money they lend to you.

In the lenders’ eyes, the lower your score, the worse you are at borrowing, and the riskier it is to lend to you. Lenders don’t want to lend to those who aren’t likely to pay them back.

So many of them won’t approve you for a loan if you have a low credit score. And if they are willing to approve your loan, you’ll be charged a higher interest rate than applicants with better credit.

This higher interest rate means higher monthly payments and a longer loan term. Even if you can afford the payments, it will cost you tens of thousands of dollars more than getting a loan with good credit.

Option 1: Raise Your Credit Score

Truthfully, your best option for getting a bad credit home loan is not getting one. That is, it’s better to work hard at raising your credit score and wait until it’s good enough for a decent interest rate. And by “better” we, of course, mean “thousands of dollars cheaper.”

Bottom line: if you can afford to wait 3 months to a year before buying a home, do so. While you bide your time, here are some simple tips for building up your credit.

Check Your Credit Reports for Errors

Did you know there’s a 25% chance your credit score is incorrect? A study by the Federal Trade Commission found that 1 in 4 of their participants found at least one error on their credit report that could negatively affect their score.

You’re legally entitled to free access to your 3 credit reports (one for each credit bureau) once per year. It will be time consuming and boring, but it’s worth it to read through all three credit reports and check for errors. In rare cases (1 in 250), correcting these credit errors raises the affected credit score by 100 points or more!

Use Your Credit Card Properly

It might sound like a really bad idea to start using your credit card more. But if you can trust yourself to strictly follow these credit building steps, your credit standing can easily go up.

First, take a detailed inventory of your monthly income and expenditures. Know exactly how much you get each month and how much of it goes to rent, groceries, utilities, and any other necessary expenses.

If your income covers these expenses, start paying for them with a credit card. Try to use a card that earns helpful rewards.

As soon as you receive your income, pay off the entire card balance. Don’t wait for the credit card bill; always pay it right away.

This shows the credit bureaus (who determine your credit score) that you are good at borrowing money and paying it back on time. And that raises your score.

However, this can still backfire if you aren’t careful. Never put unnecessary luxuries on this card, only the necessary expenditures you know your income can cover. Otherwise, you’ll rack up debt and worsen your credit.

And pay attention to not go over your limit. This, too, will hurt your credit.

Pay Down Debt

Next, don’t ignore any existing debt you’re already paying. Paying off outstanding debts will greatly increase your credit score.

Work as hard as you can for a few months to live below your means. Give up some luxuries and save up.

For example, brew generic coffee at home instead of buying a $6 Starbucks latte every day. Spend nothing on iTunes for 3 months.

Then, use the money you save to pay down existing debts.

When is It a Good Idea to Get a Bad Credit Home Loan?

If you refuse to wait and work for better credit, at least follow these guidelines to avoid foreclosing. Don’t take the loan if any of these situations apply to you.

• The interest rate sucks
• The monthly payment exceeds 30% of your monthly income
• You’re bad with money

The first two points are a recipe for financial hardship. You’ll either have difficulty paying or you’ll be adding several unnecessary years to this financial burden.

About the third point: if you already have difficulty paying bills, it’s best not to add another.

Option 2: Personal Loans

As long as you keep the above guidelines in mind, you can try for a personal loan. Many lending networks offer personal loans no credit check. If you can get a large enough personal loan, and once the funds deposited and fully available, you can use it as cash for buying a house.

Option 3: FHA Loans

This program by the Federal Housing Administration helps those with moderately bad credit buy a home. If your credit score is 500 or above, you may be eligible for an FHA loan.

However, if your score is under 580, you’ll have to pony up a 10% down payment to qualify. Those with scores above 580 may be approved with only a 3.5% down payment.

Getting a Mortgage With Bad Credit

Getting a mortgage with bad credit is possible. But is it the best option for you? Carefully consider the information in this guide before rushing into this major financial decision.

Need more home buying advice? Read this: Should I Rent Before Buying a Home or Condo?

Are you wondering whether or not it’s time for a new front door?

Your door is the first point of entry to your home, and with hundreds of thousands of burglaries taking place each day in the US, you want to make sure it’s completely secure.

Your door is also the first thing most people will see when looking at your home, so a nice door goes a long way towards improving your curb appeal – ideal if you’re looking to sell your home.

Keep reading for seven signs that you need to invest in front door replacement.

1. Your Door Is Scratched or Dented

Is your door scratched, dented, or otherwise damaged?

Obvious cosmetic issues are a clear sign that it’s time to consider a new door, whether they’ve been caused by an attempted break-in or regular wear and tear.

It’s easy for small issues to escalate – what starts as a small dent could quickly become larger when warping and weather damage are added into the equation.

A damaged door also stops your home from looking its best. Since new doors don’t cost a fortune, it’s worth getting a replacement to keep your property looking smart and respectable.

2. Your Door Is Difficult to Open or Close

Do you feel like it’s a test of strength to actually get your front door to open?

Do you find yourself repeatedly slamming your door to get it to shut?

Both of these issues suggest that it’s time for a new door. Not only is your door already warped or hanging incorrectly, but you’re also probably doing more damage each time you have to fight to open or close it.

Don’t wait until your door refuses to open/close completely to address the problem. Instead, get a replacement now and save yourself security issues and loads of hassle later on.

When you’re opening and closing your new door with ease, you’ll wonder how you ever put up with the old one.

3. Your Door Lets in a Draught

Do you feel chilly when you’re close to your front door? Is this making your whole house cold?

A front door which lets in a draught is a front door that needs replacing.

Having a door that lets in a breeze can increase your energy bills as you have to spend more to keep your home warm. It’s a sign that your seals are failing, and the problem will only get worse the longer you leave it.

Don’t suffer from a draughty home and astronomical heating bills – get a new door installed instead.

4. Your Door Hinges Are Rusty

Are your hinges and locks starting to look rusty?

Hardware is an integral part of your door, so don’t only check the main door for signs of wear and tear. If you do notice rust, it’s a clear sign that a replacement is needed.

While it is possible to replace only the rusty components, it usually makes sense to go for a whole new door instead. This way, you can be sure that you won’t have to pay for more work in a few years time.

Rusty locks and hinges make it easier for thieves to break into your home, so don’t ignore them.

5. Your Door Glass Has Moisture Build-Up

Got a front door with decorative glass? Noticed condensation or moisture building up inside?

It can be tempting to ignore a little condensation, but addressing the issue early on will help you avoid more serious problems down the line.

Moisture build-up suggests that your glass seal has warped or broken, and over time you might notice mold and mildew spreading to the rest of the door. This looks awful and isn’t great for your door, either.

Mold and mildew can be harmful to your health, especially if anyone in the house suffers from asthma or allergies. Maintain a safe indoor air quality by getting a new door as soon as you notice moisture problems.

Simply cleaning the mold isn’t enough because the problem will soon reoccur.

6. Your Door Is Warped

Is your door obviously warped, buckled, or bent out of shape?

Changes in temperature and humidity can lead to serious warping, especially in wooden doors. A warped door is likely to be difficult to open and close, might be more easily damaged by the odd knock, and will probably let in a draught.

Even if you only notice a small amount of warping, it’s worth getting a new door fitted. The problem will only get worse as time passes, especially if you’re close to a change in season.

Don’t wait until your door is impossible to close to get it dealt with.

7. You Don’t like the Color or Style of Your Door

Are you plain sick of the way your door looks?

Maybe you moved into a house with a door your hated, made the wrong choice last time you got a new door, or fancy a change?

Whatever the situation, getting a new door for reasons of style is totally legitimate.

A new door can change the entire look of your home’s exterior, and picking out your favorite is a lot of fun. You could opt for a funky color, a unique type of wood, or a pretty stained-glass option.

Take your time and look at plenty of doors before you decide. You should also consider features like peepholes, door knockers, and locks.

If you’re wondering how much a new door will cost, click to learn more.

Should You Pay for Front Door Replacement?

If you’re worried about the security of your door, are dealing with draughts and moisture, or hate the way your door looks, paying for front door replacement is a smart investment.

You’ll improve your home security, keep your home safe, warm, and dry, and improve your curb appeal. A new door doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and there are tons of styles and materials to choose from.

Want to read more about property and home improvement? Visit our blog today.

Buying a home can be a confusing yet exciting process. Knowing the proper steps to take can eliminate the confusion and make your home buying process simple and easy.

Whether you are a first time home buyer or you are in the market to sell, there are a few common mistakes you will want to avoid during the home buying process.

In this post, we will discuss common home buying mistakes.

1) Not Staying True to Your Budget

It is easy to find a house you love and quickly justify going over your budget. Your budget is set in place for a reason. Unfortunately, this is a common mistake that many home buyers make, which may lead to stress and regret later on down the road.

To determine how much you can afford on your home, try to follow the 28/36 rule. The 28/36 rule means home buyers should spend a maximum of 28% of their gross monthly income on their entire housing expense and no more than 36% on total debt.

2) Avoiding the Home Inspection

In the race to close a deal, it is not wise to skip or quickly go through the home inspection process. The home inspection is one of the most critical parts of the home buying process.

Finding a licensed and trained inspector to examine a house is the best way to identify any potential problems. Unlike a licensed inspector, most people aren’t trained to find mold, identify leaks, or point out structural issues in a home.

3) Not Preparing Your Mortgage

It is ideal to have your mortgage pre-approved before you begin searching for a new home.

It’s okay to visit different banks to find your ideal offer. In fact, comparing and contrasting different offers is ideal. If you accept the first offer, you’re potentially losing out on more money.

An experienced lender will asses your financial situation and offer several options. They can also identify any potential roadblocks during the home buying process and offer solutions. Talking to a few lenders or banks is crucial to preparing your budget and getting the right mortgage.

4) You Try to Complete the Home Buying Process By Yourself

With so much information available about real estate and purchasing a home, many people assume a simple search like homes for sale near me will find their ideal home without enlisting the help of a licensed real estate agent.

Whether it’s your first home or not, taking charge of your home buying process isn’t always the best choice. Real estate agents not only find the appropriate listing but they also work with the seller’s agent to determine an offer and ensure that that offer goes through escrow.

In addition, a good agent won’t leave you astray. They will answer any questions you have and make sure that the properties are up to your standards. It’s easy to see a beautiful home and choose it. An agent will know what questions to ask and may even be able to negotiate a lower process with the seller’s agent.

Enjoy the Home Buying Process

As mentioned, the home buying process can be confusing, but knowing what steps to take can streamline the process and make it more enjoyable.

Hopefully, you now know what mistakes to avoid during the home buying process and how to solve them.

To learn more about buying your first home, renting vs. buying, or other home-related topics, visit our website.

With more people renting than ever, it’s evident that buying a home is daunting.

Some may even consider obtaining raw land loans to build on a lot in lieu of buying a home.

But is buying land really worth it? How difficult is it to obtain a land loan?

Here’s what you should know before planning to get a land loan.

Loans for Land Aren’t as Common as Mortgage Loans

The percentage of prospective loan buyers is much lower than home buyers.

Because more people are looking for mortgage loans, not many lenders offer land loans. This makes your options really limited when buying land. (Unless you’re paying with cash!)

Land Is Hard to Sell

Buying land and building a home is a tough, time-consuming, and a lengthy process.

Most people looking to own a home are searching for existing homes to move into right away. Because of this, the market for land is not great. This makes land hard to sell because the demand isn’t there.

If you buy land to build a home and change your mind later, it might be hard to get the land off your hands.

Land Loans Are Riskier for Lenders

If for whatever reason, a borrower decides to abandon their land and stop paying, the lender has to try and sell the land.

Because the demand for land is low, a lender can predict that they will have trouble reselling a piece of land in foreclosure. This makes it risky for lenders.

As a result, lenders often charge higher interest rates and expect a more substantial downpayment. This is especially the case for land purchased with no intention to build. Higher interest rates help the lender account for any losses they might encounter from lending money for land.

Best Banks for Land Loans

Bigger banks won’t be your best bet when looking for a land loan.

Instead, you might have better luck with local credit unions. They have a better idea of the value of properties in their area because they know their customers may have an interest in them.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture loan is probably your best option. They offer a variety of loans depending on your intended projects. They also award grants for a myriad of reasons. While these loans don’t require a high income and come with low-interest rates, they have a very short repayment period.

This could result in higher monthly payments. If you are located in Canada and are interested in homeowning, you can learn more about Canadian homeownership here.

Buying a Home May Still Be a Better Option

If you’re financially stable and intend to build on raw land, you may have luck acquiring land loans.

For some, however, the interest rates and risk may be too high. In this case, it might be better to opt for a mortgage loan on an existing home.

If you are looking for a home in South Florida or want to learn about homeownership and improvement, Sky Five Properties has the information and services for you.

When renovating your house, the primary goal is to get a unique look that will make life easier for you. As such, you will be able to keep your home clean and use the least amount of money for maintenance.

With several options for flooring in the market, deciding the best floor for your house may seem a hard task. The flooring options that will strike your eye and excel in boosting house décor is hardwood and laminate flooring.

However, before deciding between the two, ensure you know the benefits each has to offer and the downside for each. To get this information, visit the wood and laminate flooring guide. In this article, we aim to show you how to style your home with laminate flooring, therefore, making it an epitome of design, comfort, and elegance.

Factors to consider before choosing a laminate floor design

First, let’s go about the factors to consider before selecting the floor design.

Although hardwood laminate flooring ideally fits with any house setting, various designs ensure that your house is the best it will ever be. As such, ensure that what your pick is the best in the market, therefore, achieving a look that guests will covet.

1. Consider your furniture and paint off the walls and ceiling

Too much of everything is dangerous. A frequently used maxim that emphasizes on uniformity and having constant amounts of substance or activity at a particular time. When it comes to house design, too much color is the poison to elegance. Apart from making the interior décor look unplanned, it limits your choices in furniture.

When going for a house floor, ensure that it matches with various elements in your home, therefore,bringing about a pattern and making it belonging. To have better insight on this, it is wise to consult a professional designer.

2. Have a plan before installation

With house renovation, setting out without a plan may lead to devastating results. Boards are not fitting, patterns not going as planned or even worse significant gaps left near walls. When preparing for the floor, try out as many models and settle on the one that satisfies you most.

Also, observe possible combinations in house design, therefore, ensuring that your house showcases class and organization.

3. Size and design of your home

Measure the size of your floor space and use a wood laminate flooring cost calculator to get an exact figure of what it will cost you. Although installing laminate flooring is easy, corners and curved floors may cause a lot of headaches.

To have an easy time installing your floor, ensure that you prepare yourself in advance. Know how to install laminate on stairs and curves areas, therefore, arming yourself with vital tools required. If your home has a lot of corridors, you can take this opportunity to unleash the designer in you and try out possible combinations.

While calculating your hardwood laminate flooring cost, provide for the blocks that will be cut when installing. Also, ensure that you get extra blocksto avoid the stress associated with future repairs.

Styling your home with hardwood laminate flooring

Given that you know the benefits of laminate flooring and some factors to consider, the next step is deciding the finish you wishfor. Here we discuss possible combinations of hardwood flooring, therefore, helping you decide on the shade to buy.

Black laminate living room flooring

Among colors that give freedom in furniture choice and paint without compromising on design is black. Also, black does not bring a clash in colors in your house, therefore, achieving a relaxed ambiance.

With black laminate flooring, dust and pet hair is not easily visible therefore accommodating a busy work life. However, ensure that some elements in your house are of a brighter color thus preventing your home from looking dull.

Taurus hardwood laminate living room flooring

If you are going for a flooring option that will reflect the summer glow, Taurus is the ideal pick. Like the former, this shade is accommodating and allows you to try out various furniture and paint choices without needing to change the floor.

If you are a pet owner, this may require you to clean more frequently. However, mopping the floor is easy,and thus it is not a major issue. Preferably use this in your living room as it gives life to your room, therefore, an easy way to impress your guests.

Liberty hardwood laminate living room flooring

A laminate flooring option that lives up to its name is liberty. With this at your service, the possible combinations of house design are endless. Also, the joints in liberty laminate are harder to notice therefore ensuring uniformity in your floors.

This brings a sense of openness and purity. With liberty, you have a natural time color matching the elements in your house, therefore, making your house design a factor you can easily control.

If your house is small, lighting has a way of making it feel bigger owing to this fact; many interior experts lay much emphasis on this. With liberty, you can open out your room without necessarily ditching your dear furniture.

Ghana hardwood laminate staircase flooring

With stairs, wood has been sought after for a good duration of time. If you wish to have a finish on your stairs that will shout professional, go for the Ghanaian hardwood laminate. This is not only accommodating with dust but also reflects light adequately ensuring you see every step.

Also, this can be used to liven up the atmosphere of your space thus an ideal flooring option.

Although you are looking for a cheap laminate flooring solution, the design does not have to look cheap. With laminate flooring, there are a lot of benefits to rip including easy installation and conforming to the trends in flooring. For the best results with this, the tips above should come in handy.

As you get older, your needs will inevitably change. The first time you went property hunting, you were probably looking for a place to get started. You and your partner made do with a fixer-upper that you remember fondly now but probably wasn’t that great at the time! You likely moved on to a family home; a white picket fence in a good neighborhood where your kids could grow up happy.

But now the kids have grown up and moved out into their own questionable fixer-upper. Your family home is big and empty. You are probably wondering where next for you. While staying here is certainly an option, you might also consider how your needs have changed. Does this property still work for you?

Accessibility

Accessibility is crucial for older people. You might be fine now but as you age, you may find getting around a large home more difficult. Keeping fit and refusing to slow down is a good start. But, it does pay to consider the kind of adjustment you may need in your old age.

It is worth looking at your house to see what would cause problems. Adjusting your home to your needs is a good idea but it doesn’t always work perfectly. A good example is the stairs. If you are living in a house with multiple stories, a lift from Lift Works might be a more pragmatic solution. But the question is, do you have room to install one and how much building work would it take? It may be easier to move than to adjust.

Local Conveniences

At the moment, you are probably driving quite a lot to get to superstores and go to social events. This is fine for now but should you decide to quit driving, would it be a problem later on? Taxi bills can be quite high and, if you are living on a tight budget, you could find that your freedom is significantly reduced.

Have a look around your local community. Are there small shops nearby that you could walk to? Is there a club you could join or a meeting place you could go to regularly? You don’t have to box yourself in right now, but knowing these things are here will help later on.

Staying in Budget

Retiring is a great opportunity to finally do some of the things you have always aspired to. You could travel the world. You could eat out during the week. You could take up golf. You’re likely to get roped into looking after the grandkids!

Whatever your retirement plans are, you must consider your budget when you choose the home you will have. For some retirees, renting could be a better option than taking on a mortgage; for others, keeping a family property and renting it out could be the funding you need to travel the world.

Setting your goals for retirement is just as important as planning for the future. Take everything into account while you decide what’s best. There’s plenty of time to choose your forever home.

Good landscaping can add thousands of dollars of value to your home. Not only that, but it will add value to your home life as well.

Imagine this: summer is approaching and you’re planning the first big barbecue of the season. Everyone flocks to your backyard where they lounge in the lush grass, run around your deck, and enjoy their time in a backyard escape.

Doesn’t that sound great? You might be wondering how to make that dream a reality. If so, keep reading. We’re going over 4 backyard landscaping ideas to turn your yard into a picturesque wonderland for the whole family.

1. Water Features

You might think you need a mansion with a 10-acre plot of land to have water features in your backyard, but that’s far from the truth. Even small spaces can benefit from a small stream, waterfall, pond, fountain, or even a pool.

Water adds a brand new element to your yard by changing the look, sound, and movement of the entire area. A waterfall bubbling on a late spring night brings peace and serenity to your yard, while a small pool will bring joyous laughs and parties to your house all summer long.

2. Create a Garden

If you don’t mind giving yourself a bit more work into your lawn care, a garden can add color and life to your backyard.

Plant flowers of all different colors to create a beautiful and colorful space. You can also try your hand at herbs, vegetables, and fruits if you want to test your green thumb!

3. Fire Pit

Grab yourself a fire pit, some stones of your choosing, and outdoor furniture. You can turn part of your yard into an amazing lounge area complete with a fireplace that’s perfect for late summer nights roasting marshmallows and deep conversations.

Use the stones to create a designated firepit area. This serves to protect your yard from any stray sparks, but it also sections off the fire pit area, which makes it feel more like its own designated room.

4. Upgrade Your Fences

If you haven’t upgraded your fences in a while, spruce them up to add polish to your yard. Even just a paint job can make them look brand new and elevate the look of your entire backyard.

Want to go even bigger? Install some brick walls or white fences and grow ivy or vines along them. This adds a classic and almost collegiate vibe to your yard.

Backyard Landscaping Ideas to Add Style to Your Yard

These are just 4 of the hundreds of backyard landscaping options you have available to you.

But even these 4 little ideas can spark a huge variety of options for you. Water features could mean anything from a huge pool to a tiny waterfall. Gardens can range from a couple of hydrangea bushes to vegetable garden.

Looking into other home improvement projects you can do? We’ve got you covered. Check out this article on the top 10 home improvement ideas that add value to your home and your life.

Buying a home is one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do. In fact, about 40 percent of Americans who have purchased a home in the past call it the most stressful life event they’ve ever faced.

But there are some simple ways to reduce the stress you feel when shopping for homes. One of the best ways is to create a house hunting wish list for yourself before you begin the process.

You, of course, want a home to have a sturdy foundation and a new-ish roof. But those aren’t the only amenities to look out for when buying a home.

Here are 7 other things that should be on your home buying wish list.

1. Great Location

Even if you’ve never shopped for real estate before, you’re probably familiar with the phrase, “Location, location, location.” Real estate agents repeat it early and often to their clients.

And for good reason! You can find the absolute best home ever for you and your family. It might even look like what you imagine your dream home to be.

But if the home is in the wrong location? It’s not the home for you.

A home might be in the wrong location if:

• The property values in its general area have been declining for a decade now
• It’s situated right near a highway or an airport
• The local school district isn’t great

You should consider a living community like Cross Timbers Home Community, for example. Cross Timbers Home Community is an excellent location to begin looking for your starter home.

Cross Timber’s housing community is complete with resort-style amenities, beautiful landscapes, and luxurious commercial properties. These are the types of amenities you want to keep in mind when considering “location, location, location.”

The decision-making of house hunting is too easy to be swept away n. When you find the right area for you and your family: you will know immediately. Do not settle for less!

Don’t get blinded by all the amazing amenities inside of a home. If it’s not in an ideal location, continue shopping around for homes in the right areas.

2. Enough Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Do you have five kids, three dogs, a cat, and a mother-in-law who visits for long weekends at least once every month?

If so, a house that has three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms is not going to be your best option. Even if you can somehow manage to make it work, it’s not going to offer you any opportunities to grow further (and your mother-in-law won’t be too happy shacking up at a hotel every month!).

Prior to looking around at different homes for sale in your area, consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms you’ll need—and stick to the numbers you come up with.

3. Updated Kitchen and Bathrooms

If you don’t mind doing a little work and spending a lot of money to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms in a home when you move in, you don’t have to include an updated kitchen and bathrooms on your house hunting wish list.

But on average, a kitchen remodel will cost you almost $22,000. And a bathroom remodel could cost upwards of $25,000 if you go with all high-end finishes.

That means that you could be forced to sink a lot of money into a home that has a kitchen and bathrooms that are on the older side. Why not avoid that altogether by investing in a home that already has these areas updated?

4. Modern Appliances

You’re going to check out tons of homes when you’re shopping for one. When you walk through these houses, pay close attention to the appliances in them.

Appliances can cost more than you might think. Here is a rough estimate on how much each individual appliance could end up costing:

• Refrigerator: Anywhere from $1,000 all the way up to $8,000
• Oven: Between $600 and $2,000
• Washing machine: From $400 for top-loading machines up to $1,000 for front-loading machines
• Dryer: Anywhere from $400 to $1,000
• Dishwasher: Somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 to $700

If you don’t like the appliances in a home, you should, at very least, make sure you can live with them for a little while. The last thing you want to do is buy a home and have to start replacing appliances right away.

5. Well Maintained HVAC System

Before you buy a home, you should always have a home inspection done. During the inspection, an inspector should take a close look at every aspect of the home you want to buy.

As part of this, they should inspect an HVAC system to see what kind of condition it’s in. Repairing a home’s heating and cooling system can cost hundreds of dollars, and replacing it could cost thousands.

Ask your inspector if it appears as though the HVAC system in the home you want to buy has been maintained properly. If it’s in bad condition, that should be a big red flag.

6. Energy Efficient Windows and Doors

If there are older windows and doors in a home, they’re likely going to have an impact on the curb appeal of it. They’re also going to drag down the interior design.

But worst of all, old windows and doors don’t provide the insulating properties that newer ones do. This will often force a home’s HVAC system to work harder than it should have to in order to heat and cool a property.

Keep an eye out for homes with energy efficient windows and doors. They can save you hundreds of dollars every year in energy costs.

7. Spacious Backyard

A big backyard isn’t a necessity for all homeowners. There are some people who don’t want too much outdoor space since they’ll be responsible for maintaining it.

But the more land you can get when purchasing a new home, the better it will be for your bottom line. When you go to sell your home one day, the land will allow you to command top dollar for the home.

Put Your House Hunting Wish List Together Today

There are so many things you’ll need to consider when shopping for homes. It’s why a house hunting wish list will really come in handy.

Your list will allow you to find a home that’s in the right location. It’ll also allow you to get the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms in a home. And it’ll even help you avoid making the mistake of buying a home with older appliances, a poorly maintained HVAC system, or old windows and doors.

Want to see some other mistakes you should avoid when house shopping? Read our blog to check out common mistakes home buyers make during the home buying process.