SkyFive Properties Blog

Buying rental properties can be an excellent way to see a return on your real estate investments.

According to forecasts, the US vacation industry could be worth 2.6 trillion dollars by 2027.

If you want your piece of the profits, buying vacation rental properties could get your foot in the door.

As the saying goes, ”location is everything”. Here’s a snapshot of the best places to buy a vacation home if you want to win at the rental property game.

Choosing the Best Places to Buy a Vacation Home

Apart from location, there are a few things you should take into account when considering your options for buying a vacation home.

The major ones are:

• Accessibility for your family and friends
• Annual occupancy rates for rentals
• Costs involved in managing the property
• The average rental that you can charge per day
• The tax implications of owning a second home

Before you consider buying a place, spend a few nights there to get a feel for it.

Scope out any nearby activities that future clients might enjoy. Talk to other owners in the area about their experiences in the vacation rental arena.

If you think you’re up to the challenges, these are the places you should consider shopping for a vacation property.

1. South Florida

You can’t go wrong with a seaside destination for your vacation property. No matter where it is in the world.

As an example, the Australian Gold Coast is hot property right now, with 45,000 new investors in the area. View here for more about the appeal of coastal villas.

Closer to home, Florida is a top destination for family seaside vacations. It’s also a lucrative investment if you want to rent out your space when you’re not using it.

Last year, the Sunshine State welcomed 126.1 million visitors to its shores, most of these from within the United States.

It makes sense that buying a beach house or condo in Florida could mean a handsome return on your investment. Not to mention many unforgettable vacations of your own.

Some of the most desirable areas for rentals in Florida include Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, and Fischer Island.

2. Napa, California

California wine country is hot property among vacationers.

People love to spend time enjoying rural hospitality and enjoying scenic countryside explorations. Naturally, sipping on fine wines is another undeniable attraction in Napa.

While the initial purchase price of your home may be high, you can command a rental rate to match in this neck of the woods.

The average nightly rental in the Napa Valley can be as high as $573 per night during peak periods.

If you can live with having a country retreat for your vacations, Napa could be a good option for you.

3. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

As a gateway to the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is a firm favorite among families and adventure seekers.

Historically, property prices have always been surprisingly affordable in this area and occupancy rates are high, year round.

Every year, guests book approximately 54% of the available room nights in Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg is a good investment if you want a year-round destination for your family to enjoy, as well as a steady income when you’re not in residence.

4. Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Another seaside gold mine for investors, Myrtle Beach is an attractive option for investors due to its low real estate prices.

Miles of beaches and a host of family-friendly attractions make Myrtle Beach a favorite for vacationing families.

While it may not be hopping year-round, the peak times in Myrtle Beach are predictable and reliable.

This can be an advantage if you want to use your home yourself in the quiet months or rent it out to acquaintances during these times.

5. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Every year during the summer break, the population of Cape Cod triples with an influx of vacationers.

The beaches, fresh seafood, sports activities, museums, and galleries are all big drawcards in this classic seaside holiday destination.

It may be a short peak season, but it’s a lucrative one. With accommodation at a premium during these months, some homeowners make up to $50,000 a year from their Cape Cod vacation properties.

In the winter time, the town returns to its sleep self and you’ll have to adjust your rates and your expectations accordingly.

6. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah abounds with a southern charm that attracts visitors year round. As a historic destination, this touristy town overflows with attractions.

Gorgeous architecture, opportunities for fireside ghost stories and interesting museums are everywhere.

It also has a fair share of trendy boutiques, swish restaurants serving the freshest seafood, and the chance to sip cocktails at leisure come sunset.

Tybee Island with its gorgeous beaches, gentle seas and festivities is only a short drive away.

All these factors combine to make Savannah a top choice for vacationers as well as astute vacation property owners.

You can look forward to an average rental of $200 per day and 59% occupancy if you buy a 3-bedroom vacation home in Savannah.

7. Killington, Vermont

This small mountain town could very well be the next big thing in vacation destinations.

The rapid growth of Airbnb offerings in this town shows increased interest in the area as a top ski destination for vacationers.

In the summertime, walking, hiking, and biking in the surrounding forests are popular activities.

The town overflows with year-round activities and amusements, from thrilling Skye car rides to scenic and leisurely gondola trips up the mountain.

With property prices hovering at the low end of the range, it may be worth taking a gamble on the impending boom in this attractive area.

8. Corpus Cristi, Texas

The long warm season extending from the first days of spring until late in the fall makes Corpus Cristi a popular place for a seaside break.

This is the one place where waterfront properties remain within the reach of first-time homeowners, at an average of $220,000.

Rental occupancies are booming here and property owners can expect to earn up to $75,000 annually from a 3 bedroom vacation home or condo.

Make Good Property Choices

Real estate is always one of the most expensive things you can buy.

It makes sense that you need expert advice when you’re considering buying a vacation home.

Browse through our portfolio of properties located in some of the best places to buy a vacation home or reach out for expert advice from our team of professionals.

Given that the average person moves more than 10 times in their life, it’s likely that even if you’ve found a great house, you may want to move later on. During those 10 moves, you’ll also need to find someone to help you and knowing how to pick a real estate agent is essential. Finding the wrong agent will cost you time and money whether you’re buying or selling a property.

Here are four things to look for when you’re in search of an agent to help you.

1. Find Someone Local

When you’re in search of a real estate agent, you need to find a realtor who knows more than you do when it comes to the local market. Whether you’re new to the area or you’re a lifelong resident, the job of a good realtor is to find out information that you don’t know or don’t have access to. Someone who is local to your region is going to be better than someone who works nationally or impersonally.

Have a meeting and gauge their knowledge of what’s good in your neighborhood. Share your ideas and be open to the kind of feedback they can offer. If they’re telling you that your idea of what’s hot in the market isn’t quite right, they should be able to tell you why.

If they’re going to push an emerging market on you, find out why. If they’re just doing it because they have a stake there or they have something to gain, it should be pretty clear to you.

Local realtors have inside knowledge, know what kind of industries are starting to emerge, and can tell you what to look out for. They should have knowledge that’s more robust than what a casual visitor might have or what you’d find in the daily paper.

2. Talk to Recent Clients

The most reputable agents will be proud to share a list of their recent clients and to offer you information about listings they’ve successfully sold. However, if you’re going to reach out to former clients, you need to know which questions to ask them.

If you’re buying a place, ask former clients what the asking price was when they decided on the home and then what the sales price ended up being. This lets you know how good your realtor is at negotiating and how they can help you to get a better deal.

If you’re trying to sell a property, look for properties where the details were similar to what you’re selling. If the price, location, and amenities were similar, ask how long the home was on the market before and after the realtor got ahold of it. You should also be working with someone who knows how to sell the kind of property you have, so this is a good litmus test.

3. Check the Credentials

Another thing that a talented and professional realtor will be happy to share is their current licensing and certifications. It takes years to be a great realtor and many of them take additional classes or certifications to understand how to work with a variety of properties.

Your realtor should be willing to share this inform station with you and proud to answer any questions you have about their experience. Their experience and accomplishments are powerful selling points when you’re seeking someone to work with.

You can also look for disciplinary actions against your realtor. Every regulatory body checks up on the people they certify and license. There are complaints lodged against the worst realtors around and reviews from the Better Business Bureau ensure that you don’t work with them.

Ask the realtor if they’ve been given any special awards for their work. All the time, realtors are given professional accolades that certify them as realtor of the year or as a realtor who is good at what they do.

4. Check Out What They’ve Got On The Market

A realtor or an agent’s current listings are going to tell you a lot about how they market properties and how hard they work to sell them. A realtor committed to helping their clients is going to offer a lot of details with photos that get you excited about the property. If you can look at a realtor’s listings online before you talk to them, you can get an unfiltered view into how they work

If a realtor or an agent has a website, it should have lots of up to date information about properties that are currently on the market. If you notice that the agent doesn’t update their listings very often, you can expect that the realtor you’re trying to work with is going to forget about you. Letting your property sit on the market for months without updating the listing or trying to reel in any buyers is toxic for your asking price.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so make sure the photos that they’re using are professionally taken and not stretched or scaled. If everything looks oddly stretched out or pixelated, then your agent doesn’t care enough about details and presentation to help your listing to sell.

Take note if your agent’s website appears to be inundated with listings. This can be a good thing but it can also mean that it’ll take forever for them to get back to you when you need help.

Use Your Gut on How to Pick a Real Estate Agent

When you’re navigating how to pick a real estate agent who works for you, use your instincts to guide your decisionmaking. You’ll find it’s much easier to work with someone who you feel comfortable with than someone who just has good reviews.

Before you start your search, check out our guide to the most common struggles that every buyer and seller faces.

There has been some chatter about American kitchens getting “Ubered out of existence” in the coming years. The thought is that the majority of Americans might start ordering their meals almost every day as opposed to using their kitchens to prepare them.

This might sound absurd at first. But consider this: About 90 percent of Americans admit that they don’t enjoy cooking. That could go a long way towards contributing to the downfall of the kitchen.

For now, though, Americans still want and need kitchens. And if you don’t like yours, it’s well worth it to do a kitchen remodel in your home. Kitchen remodels can increase the value of your home and make your entire house more functional when they’re designed the right way.

Here are 10 tips to keep in mind before tackling a kitchen remodel project.

1. Create a Budget

Before you commit to doing a kitchen remodel, it’s important to crunch the numbers and come up with a budget to see how much you can afford to spend on it.

On average, Americans spend just over $23,000 remodeling their kitchens. But you could spend well over $50,000 on a kitchen without blinking. It’s why creating a budget is so essential.

Once your budget is in place, you can proceed to plan out your remodeling project. But until then, you shouldn’t fall in love with any ideas you might have for your new kitchen space.

2. Think About What You Want

After you’ve come up with a budget for your kitchen remodel, the next order of business will be to generate a list of the things you want in your new kitchen. Your list might look something like this:

• New white cabinets
• New granite countertops
• New hardwood flooring
• New lighting
• New sink
• New appliances
• New kitchen island

Do what you can to maintain some semblance of control over your remodeling job by painting a clear picture of what you want. It’ll help things stay on track once you get started.

3. Choose the Best Layout

The layout of your new kitchen is going to be the most important part of it. The layout will, if everything goes according to plan, make your kitchen more functional for you and your family.

There are lots of different kitchen layout options. They include:

• One-wall
• Galley
• L-shape
• Horseshoe
• Peninsula
• And more

Which of these layouts is going to work best for your specific home? Think long and hard about it before settling on your favorite.

4. Hire the Right Kitchen Remodeler

If you work in the construction industry, you might be able to remodel your kitchen on your own to save a little money. But if you don’t, you’ll want to call on a professional kitchen remodeler for assistance.

Look for someone who has plenty of experience in the industry. They should offer the services you need as well as fair and affordable prices. You should also hire someone who comes highly recommended by others.

With the right kitchen remodeler in your corner, you’ll be able to bring your kitchen dreams to life and avoid blowing your budget. This page can tell you more about how valuable hiring a reputable remodeler can be.

5. Pick the Ideal Time

There is almost no time that’s right for a kitchen remodel. You’re going to be inconvenienced by it in some way.

But if you have a summer home that you go to a lot during June, July, and August or a winter vacation that you take every February, those might be the best times for your kitchen remodel to take place.

You’re obviously not going to be able to use your kitchen when it’s being remodeled. So attempt to find a time that will limit the inconvenience to you.

6. Make Cabinets and Countertops a Priority

You might not be able to afford all the high-end features you want for your kitchen. But if possible, you should always make your cabinets and your countertops a priority.

Even if you can’t afford to spend a fortune in other areas of the kitchen, put some money into buying and installing high-quality cabinets and countertops. They’ll give you the most bang for your buck and make the biggest impact on the appearance of your new kitchen.

7. Pay Close Attention to Lighting

After you put a bunch of money into doing a kitchen remodel, you’re going to want to show it off to all your guests! Make sure they can see the work you’ve done by installing the best possible lighting in the space.

From pendant lighting to recessed lighting, there are great lighting options available that’ll put a spotlight on your kitchen’s new features.

8. Give Yourself Space

Do you have a kitchen that’s on the smaller side? Try to increase the square footage in it if you can.

There are some simple steps you can take to maximize space in a small kitchen and make it feel larger.

9. Prepare for Problems

No matter how carefully you plan your kitchen remodeling project, there are going to be bumps in the road along the way. Your contractor will discover something that needs to be fixed that you weren’t expecting or a different countertop than the one you ordered will end up at your home.

Prepare to roll with the punches. Remodeling and renovation jobs almost always take a little longer than people think they will.

10. Avoid Adding Anything Too Crazy

One of your main goals when remodeling your kitchen should be to increase your home’s value. But you’re not going to do this if you choose crazy cabinets or countertops that have too much personality.

Stick with the basics when it comes to picking out things for your kitchen. You’ll get a much better return on your investment this way.

Start Your Kitchen Remodel Today

Doing a kitchen remodel will make your home look and feel different than it does now. You’ll be surprised by how it’ll change the way that everything functions.

You’ll also be surprised by how much value it adds to your home. You could see your property value skyrocket once your remodeling project is finished.

Check out our blog to see some of the other renovations that can be done to bring your home’s value up.

Most people don’t spend time thinking about floods. The truth is though, they cause hundreds of deaths every year. They are also responsible for ruining millions of homes.

Even if don’t live somewhere that’s considered “flood-prone”, you never know when heavy rains can lead to a flash incident that could leave you liable for thousands of dollars worth of property repairs.

Avoiding falling victim to the aftermath of flooding is why flood insurance is so important. The added expense insurance represents to policyholders however, may be more than some are prepared to deal with.

To make sure that flood insurance costs don’t break your bank account, below, we go over practical steps and considerations that will help you find the best policy at the best price.

Understand What You Can Afford When Considering Your Mortgage

Most people look at their home’s monthly mortgage and its required insurance as one expense. According to financial experts, that expense should not exceed 30% of your monthly household income.

If you’re finding that your mortgage expenses without insurance factored in already exceed 30% of your income, you may want to consider bringing down your mortgage costs by refinancing your home with a different lender or switching your mortgage term from 15-years to 30-years (if applicable).

If your mortgage comes in under 30% of your monthly income, find out how much wiggle room you have for insurance. For example, let’s sat you spend $1100 per month on your mortgage and that number represents 25% of your household income. You’d have about $220.00 a month (an additional 5% of your income) to comfortably budget for flood insurance.

Start Shopping

Once you have an idea of what you can afford when it comes to flood insurance costs, it’s time to find a policy. There are a couple of places that you can start your search.

Locally

Many cities have local insurers that will sell you flood insurance policies. This is particularly true in areas that are flood-prone.

Take a moment to see what’s available to you in your vicinity to get a feel for what you should expect to pay.

Online

You can learn more about and purchase flood insurance 100% online. This is an effective insurance buying strategy whether you live in a mountain state like Colorado or a waterfront state like Louisiana.

Always Vet Policies and Providers Before Doing Business

It’s important to note that not all insurance providers are created equal. We’ve heard a number of horror stories where people have purchased flood insurance policies from less than reputable agencies only to find that their coverage was not there for them when they needed it.

Furthermore, even if you budget enough for flood insurance costs to buy from a known provider, it’s important to not assume that the particular policy you’re getting is comprehensive.

Many insurers offer different tiers of flood insurance that cover to different degrees. If your coverage is comprehensive, you’ll pay more monthly but can claim more for damages. If your coverage has gaps, you’ll pay less monthly.

All of that to say that you need to know exactly what you’re getting into before finalizing your coverage.

On Average, How Much Does Flood Insurance Cost?

This is one of the most common questions that we get because insurance shoppers want to know if the prices they’re finding are reasonable. The problem is, there is no singular average when it comes to flood insurance policies.

Flood insurance costs range wildly depending on where you live and how liable that area is to flood. Our advice is to engage multiple insurers that do business in your state. By comparison, you’ll be able to deduce what constitutes a good deal and a bad one.

How Can You Bring Down the Cost of Flood Insurance?

After you’ve budgeted and shopped around for policies in your area, you may be finding that solid flood protection is outside of what you can comfortably afford.

To potentially bring down your premiums, consider migrating your living area and important property to a higher floor.

If you have bedrooms, utilities, and valuables below ground-level in your house (in a basement for instance) insurers will charge more because anything below ground level stands a higher chance of incurring flood damage.

If migrating your living space upwards doesn’t bring down your policy’s costs, there’s always the option of moving to a less flood-prone area.

Moving is never something people want to be forced into. Unfortunately, choosing to live in a flood-prone area without good insurance is the worst decision you can make.

Floods may seem like an impossibility. You never know though when you’re suddenly going to be one of the millions of people that lose everything to one.

Wrapping Up How to Budget for Flood Insurance Costs with Your Mortgage

Considering how much you’re paying towards your mortgage and using that number to determine how much you can spend on flood insurance costs is a cumbersome but necessary process.

You’ll want to make sure that you protect your family and your belongings by picking up a policy that is as comprehensive as your budget will allow. Only then can you rest easy knowing that you’ll be able to pick up the pieces if a flood should strike.

Are you looking to upgrade your existing home locally? Do you want out of a flood plain? If so, our team at Sky Five Properties has you covered.

Check out our extensive inventory of homes, condos and more today!

Summer temperatures continue to rise every year. Keeping our homes cool is more important than ever.

There are a lot of heat-related injuries we want to prevent but sometimes running an AC all the time isn’t possible. Plus it’s expensive.

But air conditioning isn’t the only way.

We’re here to help you learn how to keep a house cool even in the hottest of temperatures.

Window Maintenance

The first step to staying cool without AC is to check your windows. Make sure there’s no damage in the wood and no gaps between the panes of glass. This way, when you close your windows, you know for certain no hot air is getting through.

If you live in an area that gets hit by super high temperatures, it might be a good idea to think about double glazing. Double glazing makes use of two glass panes and the space between them in order to regulate temperatures.

This window treatment is the best option to control the temperature in your home.

Check Your Insulation

Thinking about our insulation is something most of us only do when we first purchase a home. After that, it’s not a thing we think about all that often.

But if you wonder how to make your house cooler, insulation is key. This protective layer makes temperatures stay where you want them. Hot air stays out and the cool air stays in (or vice versa during winter!).

Before summer hits, make certain to do a check up on the state of your home’s insulation. If it’s looking old and worn down, it’s time to think about replacements.

Close Curtains and Blinds

It’s not only the humidity you need to think about. Sunlight itself carries heat with it. That makes it a good idea to keep those curtains and blinds closed before the heat settles into your home.

It’s a simple trick that makes a whole world of difference. You give up a bit of light and view, but the lessened heat more than makes up for it.

Keep Doors Shut

Staying cool without AC is all about maintaining control over the temperatures in your house. An easy way to do that is to keep your doors closed. In particular, this is important when you’re not using that specific room.

This way, you’re keeping the cool air contained in the rooms you want. With open doors, you’ll need to work harder to achieve the same result as there’s more air to cool down.

Control Humidity

There’s nothing worse than a summer heat that’s also wet and sticky. Plus, it makes the heat feel even hotter to our skin. Keep that kind of humidity out of your house by using a dehumidifier.

These machines are the perfect way to get all that uncomfortable moisture out of the air.

No Longer Wonder How To Keep A House Cool

It’s easy to think an AC is the only answer in how to keep a house cool during the summer. By using the tips above, you know all of the little tricks that not only keep you and your family cooler.

And the best part? They also help save you money.

During the worst heat, don’t forget to think about your lawn as well!

Out of sight, out of mind. Access to a roof can be difficult and dangerous. When you know something’s wrong, it’s vital to be able to trust that your roofing contractor will give you an honest opinion. Don’t get taken for a ride.

Follow a few simple steps, and you’ll quite literally be home and dry. We’re here to show you how to choose the best roofing contractors in your area. You’ll then be confident that any issues you have with your roof will be resolved satisfactorily.

Find a Local Referral

Ensuring a roof is in good order is one of many challenges homeowners face. That’s particularly true if they’re considering buying or selling a property.

Use your own social and professional network to find someone local who comes recommended and is well established. You need to be sure that your contractor isn’t likely to vanish before any warranties expire.

Ask for references, and make contact with any previous clients. You can check to see whether the contractor will be right for your project.

Check Qualifications

Ask your contractor for proof that they and their subcontractors have the correct training and qualifications to do the job.

Ensure your roofing contractor has manufacturer certifications. These are important because they mean the company will have passed certain minimum requirements.

Check out the Better Business Bureau website to make sure your contractor is listed and has a great score.

Ask for a Written Contract

It’s great to like the person who is going to do the roofing for you. Don’t let that deter you though from getting a written contract. This can protect you and lessens any financial risk.

When you’re negotiating, consider asking for some extras, like a makeover for your deck. Ask if this could be included at a preferential rate, along with the work needed to fix the roof.

The contract should specify the work that needs to be done. It should also breakdown the costs of materials and labor. Finally, it should include a schedule so that it’s clear when the work will be completed.

Adequate Insurance

All contractors should be able to provide you with a copy of their insurance certificate. Accidents can and do happen to contractors. It’s that you have the reassurance that you won’t be liable for any potential negative consequences.

Most policies state that the contractor should have the correct license. That stipulation may not stop unlicensed contractors from trying to do the job. It’s therefore imperative to check licenses as well as insurance policies.

Check for Warranties

Make sure your contractor offers a warranty that includes their workmanship. If mistakes are made during the installation process, it can take time and money to put them right. If you’re not covered properly then you could have to foot the bill.

Hiring the Best Roofing Contractors

It’s important not to feel pressurized when choosing a contractor. Take your time and check the small print. Follow our tips and you’ve got a great chance of getting one of the best roofing contractors available.

Having a roof that’s in good order is going to add value to your home. Check here for other exterior renovations that could help if you ever you decide to sell your property.

Buying property for the first time is always a thrilling and joyous experience, at least from the outside. The idea of finally owning your own place will be a huge relief, and a lot of people will only consider the good side of the work they have to do, failing to consider the mountain of jobs which will be on their plate. Of course, though, if you want something like this to go smoothly, you need to be covering all of the bases. To help you out with this process, this post will be exploring one of the best methods for taking the harder work out of your hands; using a professional property firm.

Policy & Protocol

One of the biggest benefits of a large company helping you out with something like this is the fact that they have strict policies and protocols in place to protect people like you. All of their team members will have to go through the same process when they are organizing the transaction, and this will make it almost impossible for stones to be left unturned. There are strict laws which govern and regulate property sales. This makes it crucial that you understand the law, or at least have someone willing to learn about it for you.

Experience

Along with their legal obligations to treat customers correctly, a business which has been working in a field for many years will always benefit from the experience of its employees. For example, if your purchase doesn’t go smoothly, and you have to argue with your local government, having someone who has gone through this process in the past by your side will make it all far easier. Of course, experience can help with smaller things, too. Even something as simple as spotting an awkward seller who will make everything harder can save loads of time when you’re buying a home.

Advice

When someone is working as a real estate agent, it makes sense for them to throw a huge amount of their time into learning about modern properties. Over the years, laws and rules will change, and keeping up with this takes a lot of energy. Having someone with this knowledge will save a lot of time when you’re buying a home. If you are planning a family, for example, they will be able to help you to find a home which not only has space for the future, but will also be in a good location for those starting a family.

Along with being able to give you small pieces of advice, companies like this can also help when it comes to bigger stuff. When it comes to something like your mortgage, for example, a lot of people have to spend months learning how to use a loan amortization calculator or other online tools which make mortgages make more sense. Instead, you can talk to your agent, using their experience in this field to get good advice about the sort of products you should be going for. Having this behind you is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you don’t make bad choices down the line.

Negotiation

One of the main reasons for people going through private systems when they are buying a home is cost saving. Without a professional helping you out, you will almost certainly save money, right? In reality, this sort of logic doesn’t work out so well, though, as most people don’t have the ability to negotiate like a full-time salesperson. Not only will a firm like this have experience in this area, but they will also know how far they can push the sellers they have on their books. While they are also working for the seller, a real estate will often be focused on making sales, rather than making them money.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the support of a professional when it comes to buying your new home. A lot of people assume that this route will be more expensive or restrictive than doing it by themselves. In reality, though, the buyer doesn’t have to pay for an estate agent’s time, with the seller having to cover most of the bill. This means that ignoring this route could actually cost you money, and this is something most people will want to avoid when they are buying a home. Speaking to a professional like this doesn’t sign you up for any commitments, and you can always choose to go with someone else once you’ve given one a try.

Have you spent the last few months spending every spare minute bundled up on your couch and taking advantage of your Amazon Prime membership?

If this resonates with you, no judgment here. Lots of us spend our winters accumulating things we don’t need and just doing our best to survive the cold.

The good news, though, is that spring is almost here! That means it’s time to some spring cleaning. If you’ve made a few too many late night Amazon purchases, this also means it’s time to find a place to store all your new belongings.

If the idea of cleaning and home organization makes you start to sweat, don’t panic. Just keep reading. Listed below are ten great home storage solutions that will help you organize your space and find a place for everything.

1. Clean Up Your Counters

Clutter on your countertops is sure to leave you feeling stressed out and overwhelmed every time you set foot in your kitchen. Instead of letting it continue to accumulate, block off some time to clear things out once and for all.

Once you’ve cleared everything off your counter, go through and figure out what needs to go back on the counter and what belongs in a different part of the house.

Then, set up some wire baskets or mail sorters on your counter to catch the clutter. Use a basket to hold keys, phone chargers, or other odds and ends that get tossed on the counter. Use the mail sorter for letters, bills, homework, and other paper items.

Better yet, why not get a cleaning company to do the work for you instead of grinding out this task and all of the others?  Leveraging of your time is important if you wish to have time for pursuing your passions.

2. KonMari Your Closet

You’ve seen everyone and their mom following the KonMari method to clear out their closets and other areas of their house.

You might be getting sick of hearing people ask if certain items “spark joy,” but there’s definitely a lot of benefits to taking this approach, especially when it comes to organizing your closet.

Take all of your clothes out of your closet and get rid of any items that don’t make you happy. You might need to get rid of items that don’t fit, that you don’t like, or that you haven’t worn for years.

Once you’ve cleared out your closet, you can look into reorganizing or even redesigning it. This article has tons of great ideas you can look to for inspiration.

3. Use Square Storage Containers

If you’re about to take on a big organizing and decluttering project, chances are you’re going to need to invest in some new storage containers.

When you’re shopping for containers, stick to square or rectangular ones. You’ll have less wasted space with these kinds of containers. You will have an easier time stacking them, too.

4. Use a Peg Board in Your Kitchen

We all have that drawer in our kitchen — or maybe several drawers. You know, the one that holds all of our oddly shaped kitchen utensils and sometimes can’t even be opened because a spatula got put in at a bad angle.

Get rid of that drawer and store your tools in a better way, such as on a pegboard.

A pegboard lets you take advantage of empty wall space and store awkwardly shaped items like measuring cups and spatulas on hooks where you can easily see and access them.

5. Skip Over Storage Sets

When you’re shopping for storage containers, you might be tempted to purchase storage sets that come with containers in three or four different sizes.

The problem with these sets, though, is that you often only end up using a couple of the containers in them — the ones that are sized appropriately for the majority of your belongings. The rest get tossed to the side or stuffed in a closet somewhere.

By purchasing individual storage containers, you can get just what you need and end up saving money.

6. Install Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are all the rage these days and for good reason. They give you more storage space and have a nice, sleek, minimalist design.

Try hanging floating shelves up in your kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere else where you have a lot of clutter.

Don’t forget to use the bottoms of the shelves, too. They’re great for hanging jewelry, coffee mugs, and other items.

7. Sort Out Your Tupperware

If you’re like most of us, you have a whole cabinet (or maybe two) dedicated to Tupperware. And, you probably have no idea what all is in that cabinet.

Take everything out of this cabinet (or cabinets) and get rid of anything that is cracked, stained, or doesn’t have a lid.

8. DIY Storage Drawers

If you have a big cabinet in your kitchen or bathroom and have a hard time keeping track of everything in it, install some makeshift drawers using clear plastic bins. You can just pull the bin out when you need something — instead of taking out everything in the cabinet.

9. Organize Your Entryway

The lawn and exterior of your home might be the first things people see, but what they see next is the entryway to your house.

Make sure your entryway is clean, inviting, and free of clutter.

Invest in a coatrack or a hanging organizer to keep everything off the floor and out of your guests’ way.

10. Use Labels

Finally, label all of your storage containers.

Even if they’re clear, it helps to have a label stuck on the front. Labels will save you a ton of time and make it easy for you to figure out where everything is.

If you’re labeling containers that contain toys or other kids’ items, use labels that contain pictures rather than words so kids can keep their things organized.

Need More Home Storage Solutions?

As you can see, there are tons of different steps you can take to make your home more organized.

Put these ten home storage solutions to the test and you’ll find that home quickly becomes a much more open, organized, and enjoyable place.

Do you need a little more organization help, though? Maybe you’re trying to get your home cleared out so you can get ready for a big move.

Whatever your motivation is for cleaning up and clearing out your home, we can help.

Check out some of the other articles on our blog today for more inspiration. This article on downsizing your home is a great starting point.

Whether you’re thinking of selling your home any time soon or you’re just looking to reappraise it, some of the most lucrative changes to make are in the kitchen. When you make changes in the kitchen, you make your home easier to sell, especially if you have a professional kitchen. Even people who microwave every meal want to have a professional-looking kitchen in their home.

Here are five ways to upgrade your kitchen to something professional looking.

1. High-End Stove

Having a great stove helps you to prepare great meals. When you invest in a high-end stove, you’re investing in a way to prepare your meals like the professionals. While building a professional-grade kitchen at home isn’t always a possibility, your stove and your oven are going to make the biggest difference.

Having a range that’s fully electric might feel like a good idea at first, but it’s much harder to manage. Even as electric stoves have become more accurate and easier to use, there’s nothing as empowering as cooking with fire. When you have a gas-powered oven, you get the chance to cook by instinct rather than the redness of a coil or by a number on a knob.

When you’re cooking over a flame, you always know how much heat you’re giving to what you’re cooking. Measuring cooking temperature by redness s much more challenging and will have you pulling out your thermometer. While this can be accurate in some cases, it takes the instinct and connection to the food you’re cooking out of the equation.

Your stove needs an oven that provides you with accurate temperature controls. Without temperature that you can control, you’ll end up with strange cakes, overcooked roasts, and meat that’s not as juicy as it could be.

To accompany your range, consider ventilation by Brooklyn Fan & Blower Sales Company to keep the air moving all around your stove.

2. Professional Utensils

When you’re trying to mix, ladle, serve, and cut things in your kitchen, you need to have professional-grade utensils. The better your utensils are, the easier your work is. If you’re struggling just to cut something, you need to get better tools.

Your knives should be the highest quality you can afford. Whether you’re chopping vegetables, dicing garlic, or slicing fish open, the knife that you use is going to impact how easy it is to get the job done. Any knife that you use should be sharp, easy to sharpen, and come with a warranty that lasts longer than a few holidays.

When you’re serving food to people, having high quality serving spoons and forks changes how they feel about the food. If you’ve got two dinner forks that you use to serve salad with, they might not be so jazzed about it. However, if you’ve got big solid salad tongs to do the job with, you’ll find them excited to scoop heaping piles of greens onto their plate.

3. A Quality Mixer

Mixing things in the kitchen makes the difference between good and bad pancakes or mashed potatoes that have the right texture. When you have a quality mixer, you take out some of the guesswork and just have to follow a schedule. Set up your mixer, hit start, start a timer, and let the mixer do the work.

If you’re making a lot of cookie dough or other dense mixes, a high-quality mixer ensures you save the elbow grease and get to focus on other things. Putting together a good dough is time-consuming and it takes a lot of effort. If you’re on a tight schedule, you might want some help from a mixer to get the job done.

A mixer is also great if you’re trying to make a soup or a sauce. If your sauce has to be absolutely 100% chunk-free, then a mixer can do all of the work without you having to wear your arm out. Even working with an electric hand mixer is time consuming, messy, and works on your upper body strength.

4. Good Countertops Make a Difference

If you want to have a professional kitchen, you need to have some solid countertops. The countertops that you use are going to determine not only how easy it is to clean up but how seriously your guests take you. If you have crummy Formica, it might not seem like you care a lot about preparation in your kitchen.

Replace that cheap facade with even quartz or marble if you have the budget and you’ll be able to do work right on your counter. The counter is going to wipe clean easily and be much simpler to work with.

If you want better cleanup, a sanitary space, and something that looks professional, consider stainless steel. Having a steel countertop makes you look like a real pro. Since it’ll wipe clean every time, there’s also no need to worry about spills.

5. Upgrade Your Sink

One of the most overlooked elements in any kitchen is the sink. However, every professional will tell you how important it is to have a large sink that’s easy to clean and to wipe down.

Your sink is going to have to store and to soak lots of pots and pans if you’re cooking all of the time. You’ll also need a material that you can clean quickly and easily. If you have an older porcelain sink, it’ll be hard to keep it clean while doing the kind of work you need to do.

Stainless steel is another good solution here when it comes to material to rely on. The better the materials you choose, the easier it’ll be to get people to appreciate your kitchen.

A Professional Kitchen Is Within Reach

If you’re considering upgrading to a professional kitchen, you’ll find that you’re making a decision that’s going to pay off. While it might seem like a large expenditure at first, you’ll find that your kitchen is going to make it easier to cook, clean, and entertain. And, if you’re looking to renovate your restaurant’s kitchen further, consider investing a fire suppression system. This ensures a fire is contained in an emergency situation. To learn more about these systems, head over to CostHack.com

If you’re thinking of remodeling the interior of your home, check out our guide for improving your exterior as well.

The National Association of Realtors recently reported that the median price for single-family homes in January 2019 was $247,500. The median purchase price for a condo was over $200,000. With real estate being the biggest investment you’ll probably ever make, it’s wise to consider the pros and cons of a condo vs house.

If a home purchase is on your horizon, use this helpful comparison guide. You’ll discover the facts you need when deciding on what home you should buy.

Condo vs House: Which is Best?

So which one is the better buy? The answer to that question is “it depends.” Your age, lifestyle and amount you can afford will all influence your decision. Here are some things to think about when you’re asking yourself “condo vs house: what should I buy?”

Condo Pros and Cons

As with all things, there are some benefits and disadvantages to condo ownership. Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking this is the route you’ll take:

Affordability

If you’re just starting out in your career or on a fixed, retirement income, condos are an affordable route. Condos have a cheaper purchase price. This means your down payment and monthly mortgage payments will also be lower.

Maintenance

Onsite maintenance at condo communities such as mowing the lawn or cleaning out gutters is provided by the community’s Home Owners Association (HOA.) Homeowners are responsible for doing these tasks by themselves.

Pets

Many condo units have restrictions on whether household pets are allowed. Some Home Owner Associations may have rules against pets living on the premises because of each unit’s close proximity to one another. Homeowners don’t share walls with anyone and aren’t subject to these kinds of rules.

If you want to find out more about condo ownership, check out this website. The pros at Orangeline Condos can share their high level of expertise in the Arlington Virginia housing market.

Single Family Home Pros and Cons

You might have heard your parents talk about owning a home as “the American Dream.” Here is a look at the pros and cons of that “Dream.”

Privacy

There is no arguing that a house can afford you more privacy than condo living. Houses are detached and not physically joined to other residences, unlike condos. Condos share walls and roof lines, which could make for noisy cramped quarters with your neighbors.

Space

Houses are larger in space than condos. The median size of a new house is over 2,000 square feet where condos are usually closer to 1,400 square feet. If you are just starting a family you’ll need the extra space that a house has to offer.

Resale and Cost Appreciation

Single-family home prices will appreciate more than condo prices. Houses also resell at quicker rates then condos. This is usually because some HOA rules are so restrictive that buyers will walk away from the bargaining table for that very reason.

Next Steps

Still undecided whether a condo vs house is right for you? Buying your home is a huge financial obligation. Since every home buyers situation is unique, you should make your decision with your future plans in mind.

Consider whether the conveniences of condo living are worth what you’ll pay in association fees and diminished privacy. You should also decide if you have the time and funds necessary to maintain your dwelling all by yourself.

Check out our website for more advice on investing in a condo vs. house. Do your homework on this important decision. You’ll be glad you did.