In August 2019, the average home sold for around $404,000. 

If you’re thinking about buying a new home, plan to spend a pretty penny to get the home of your dreams. But when you consider the fact that your home is an investment that will likely grow in value over time, it makes sense to spend a significant amount of your income on the property. 

Just because a house is expensive does not mean you have to pay for it in cash. Here are tips for mortgaging a high priced property.

1. Make Sure the Home Is in Your Budget

Before you start looking at multi-million dollar homes that are out of your price range, make sure you know how much of a home you can actually afford. Just because you’re pre-approved for a certain loan amount, doesn’t mean that buying a house at the top-end of the approved amount is a good decision. 

Financial experts recommend that your housing costs should not exceed 25% of your monthly income. So, if you and your spouse bring home a monthly income of $6,000, your mortgage payment should be $1,500 or lower. 

And remember that your housing costs include your basic mortgage payment plus property taxes, homeowners insurance, and Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). 

2. Save Up a Hefty Down Payment

One of the most common mortgage questions is how to lower your monthly payment amount. The easiest way to lower your monthly payment is by increasing your down payment. 

Ideally, you should be making a down payment of at least 20% of the home’s selling price. But, if you can afford to pay a higher amount, take advantage of the savings this will provide you later. 

With a higher down payment, your overall loan amount will be less. This means lower monthly payments. But in addition to that, if you make a down payment of least 20%, you don’t have any PMI added on to your monthly mortgage payment. 

3. Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates

Getting the lowest possible interest rate can save you thousands of dollars down the road. When it comes to getting a mortgage, make sure you’re negotiating for the best rate out there. 

Have you ever taken the time to calculate the true price of your loans once a mortgage is calculated into the picture? Let’s say you have a $200,000 30-year mortgage with an interest rate of 4.5%. At the end of the mortgage’s life, you’ll have actually paid $364,813 once interest is added in. 

To get a better rate, take the time to improve your credit score. Also, don’t be afraid to shop around and see what rates other mortgage brokers can offer you. 

You can Afford a High Priced Home

Using these three tips, you can afford the high priced home of your dreams.

Start by making sure your dreams are realistic by keeping your monthly housing costs below 25% of your income. Then, spend a decent amount of time saving up for a hefty down payment to help lower your monthly payments. Last but not least, make sure you’re getting the lowest interest rate possible. 

Ready to find the luxury home of your dreams? Head over to the Homes section of our site to see what’s properties are currently for sale. 

Does your toilet clog too often or your sink won’t drain? It’s time to hire a plumber.

But how do you know you’re hiring the right plumber? You need to get some sort of guarantee that they’re bringing in a legitimate expert. 

Fortunately, you don’t need to be a plumbing expert to identify a good plumber from a bad one. Ask a plumber these following questions and you can gauge whether or not they’re the right choice for your needs:

1. Are They Licensed?

One of the most important details while finding a plumber is legitimacy. Make sure you ask if the plumbers carry a license.

Not all states require plumbers to have a license but the majority do. For the state of Alabama, they do have to carry a license before they can conduct official work. If your state requires a license and the company you called can’t present one, it’s time to look elsewhere.

2. Do They Carry Insurance?

Licensure isn’t the only legal requirement. You should also ask if the plumber carries insurance.

This protects not only the plumber in case of an accident but you as well. You don’t want to end up paying hospital bills because of a plumbing injury in your house. 

3. Do They Have Experience?

This is perhaps one of the most important things to ask a plumber before hiring! Always check if they have experience in the field. You don’t want to settle for a rookie on the job.

Experienced plumbers carry the wisdom and technical know-how. They’ve been on the job for a while now and this means they know how repair and replacement tasks like the back of their hand.

They might also have better connections with parts suppliers, guaranteeing you better deals. 

4. Is There a Warranty?

Before you agree to any new parts and installation, make sure you ask about their warranties. Do they even have a warranty for their repair work and new parts? If they do, ask them about the validity period for these warranties.

The worst-case scenario is hiring a plumber with no warranties to fix something only for it to break a day after. If you call them back, you’ll have to pay for everything all over again. With a warranty, you won’t have to keep repaying, especially if it was their fault they didn’t resolve the problem the first time through.

5. How Do Their Reviews Fare?

Take time to read reviews. If a plumbing agency doesn’t have reviews available on Google My Business, an official website, or social media pages then they’re either new or outright shady.

As mentioned, you’ll want to hire plumbers with experience. You can gauge their experience and skills through reviews. The more reviews they have, the longer they’ve been in the business and this builds confidence in their capabilities.

Reviews can also unveil important details normally not posted on a business site. Previous customers might write about how friendly a plumber was, about hidden fees, or if the repair work was a disaster.

These reviews can showcase if they had trouble contacting the plumber, if the plumbers ran a legit business, and if there were aftercare services.

6. How’s Their Customer Service?

Good customer service says a lot about a business. You might want to stay clear from a business that doesn’t treat their customers well on the phone. Not having any form of customer service is also a red flag — the company could be a scam and might run off as soon as they get your money.

Don’t forget to ask about long-term customer service too. If you bought a new pipe for your toilet, for example, can you still call the company six months later regarding any potential issues? Will they still help you long after they did their job?

7. What are Their Certifications?

Look beyond the required state license. Ask your potential plumbers if they carry any other accreditation or certification. Do they carry any certification from Green Plumbers or any accreditation for excellence in the field?

While most of these certifications aren’t necessary to legally work in the field, they do prove that the plumbers are good at their job. These certifications help them stand out from the crowd. Why hire one plumber when their competitors already proved they’re the better, more certified choice?

8. Are They Local?

Many don’t realize how important it is to ask a plumber if they’re from the area. If they don’t live in the local area, it could take too long for them to keep coming back for constant repairs and maintenance. They might not always be available to make a trip to your residence if they have to travel too far.

There’s also the issue with ordering parts. If the plumber isn’t from the area, they might raise prices for parts since they have to consider the additional shipping fees. 

9. Do They Exist?

Yes, this is a real question you shouldn’t hesitate to ask! Always be on the lookout for scammers. Check if the plumbing agency is real and if they are a legitimate business.

How do you identify a real business from a fake? Ask for a website, a contact number, a physical address, and some reviews. Legitimate businesses won’t hesitate to give these details to you.

Even if you’re hiring a solo plumber, they should be able to provide you a contact number and a Facebook Page in case they don’t run a professional site. 

Scammers won’t provide these details. They’ll try to maintain as much as animosity as they can. This ensures they can run off with your money and leave no trace behind.

10. Are They Honest About Rates?

Don’t hesitate to get frank about their rates. Gauge how transparent the plumbers are with their fees and always check for any hidden charges. If they charge extra for ordering sink parts not found in your local region, make sure they state that at the beginning of your deal.

Ask a Plumber These Questions Before Hiring!

You don’t need to be a professional plumber to know if the ones you hire know their stuff. Ask a plumber these crucial questions and you’ll know right away if they’re the real deal. 

But these aren’t the only things to keep in mind. You should also learn which plumbing issues you can DIY and which ones require an expert eye. You can learn that and more by checking out our other guides right here, today!

As much as 84% of all homeowners have encountered a pest problem in the last year. For condo owners, it’s often not their fault that a pest invites themselves inside. The close proximity to their neighbors increases their likelihood of an infestation.

A carpet beetle isn’t exactly a household name, like the termite. Carpet beetles are an extremely big nuisance, too. You don’t need carpeting to witness their destruction.

Use these five tips to avoid ever crossing paths with this pest infestation.

1. Know Thy Enemy

These beetles leave their marks in the form of black dots and exoskeletal remains. They tend to congregate in the corners of rooms, furniture, and under carpeting. Carpet beetles can live behind the walls, in attics, in inside boxes, too.

If you see the holes and fecal pellets, they’re not far away. If you have light carpeting, look closely, as the larva can blend in.

2. Start Vacuuming

You’ll want to start vacuuming any spots where you think the beetles are hiding. This will stir them up, but also thin out their numbers so that you can lay down a defense later. You can opt for a deep carpet cleaning now, too. 

Invest in a handheld steamer to make sure nothing survives in the cracks and crevices. Do a quick sweep over dressers and under furniture periodically to stop them from regrouping.

3. Clean the Linens

Pick up all the linens in the house and start methodically washing all of them. Carpet beetles will scramble for a new place to hide and feed when you’re vacuuming. They won’t normally travel far outside their territory, but you will force them to move.

Washing your linens on a daily basis is the best way to protect them from possible hitchhikers.

4. Lay Down the Boric Acid

After you’ve finished cleaning everything, it’s time to prevent their recovery. Boric acid is a safe, non-toxic powder that destroys insect exoskeletons. It’s so effective on carpet beetles that some homeowners are able to stop all future infestations from it alone. 

Also, boric acid doubles as a nice laundry booster.

5. Use Treatments for Carpet Beetles

You may not always win the battle against these pests off of boric acid and cleaning. It’s also not always realistic to expect condo owners to have the time to wage this battle alone. That’s why there are carpet treatments that the pros use, like, NewCaneyFullScopePest, to help turn the tides.

Carpet treatment products are a little expensive and do require a sprayer to work effectively.

Call the Professionals

If the above five tips on exterminating carpet beetles fail, it’s not your fault. Carpet beetles are persistent and can hide behind walls. For condo owners, they’re like roaches, resilient and tough to push out. 

Save yourself the time and money waging this battle alone by calling experienced professionals. They can do the job faster and limit any future damage done to your condo. Foot the bill now and save money in the long run.

If you watched Smart House as a kid, building a smart home might feel a little bit more like science fiction than real life. While you aren’t going to have PAT in your home, how about Alexa? You probably already talk to Siri on your phone, so why not add another handy helper?

Learning how to build a smart home and what it takes to get smart home design right can mean the difference between a convenience and a disconnected mess. Continue reading this article to learn the best practices for building a smart home.

The 411 on Building a Smart Home

Welcome to the future. It’s time to create A Connected Home and the following tips will help you do it the right way. You won’t have to work over your home with major constructions and you won’t need to have networking skills so stay tuned.

1. Determine How You Want It to Function

Before you get into the physical work of creating your smart home, you need to get specific about how you want it to work.

Are you focused on energy costs? Do you want to make it easier for you to access your home?

Figure out what your main priorities are before you get started. Some people might need a more complex system than others depending on their goals.

2. Know Your Budget

Smart homes can start to skyrocket in price when you start shopping around for devices and service. When you take care of step one and know what you want, it is a little easier to plan your budget. You have to be realistic but you also shouldn’t break the bank just to get a couple of extra fancy gadgets.

3. Determine How Long Are You Willing to Spend On the Project

If you don’t care about how long it is going to take you on this project, you can work on it at your leisure. Most of us want to get things done so we can start using our new toys.

Determining how much time you have to get things done will allow you to break your project into small bite-size chunks. You might give yourself a week to do the planning and a week to get the smart home up and running. Determine your timeline and map it out so you know what’s expected of you.

If you’re hiring someone to do the work, you might have to ask them what their timeline is but you can at least see if it is going to line up with yours. If their timeline doesn’t line up with yours, look around for other people to do the job.

4. Make Sure Your WiFi Is Strong

Your smart home needs strong WiFi if it is going to be helpful to you. If you overlook this part of your smart home plan, you’re not going to get the full benefits that you want.

Wherever you want to use your WiFi smart devices needs to have a strong signal. Even if other areas of the home have good WiFi, that’s not going to help when you put a device in a dead zone in your home.

5. Don’t Forget Security

The last thing you want is a hacker to get into your network. Smart device use is growing and so are the number of people that are interested in learning how to hack them.

Make sure you have a good firewall, up-to-date routers and router firmware and don’t forget to create strong passwords. If you can’t remember your password, put it in a note somewhere that you can access it at a later date. Don’t make your password something easy to make it simple for you to log in because hackers are going to think it is just as easy.

6. Look at the Current Devices You Have

Before you go out and start buying devices for your home, see what you already have. You might have a smart speaker that you forgot about or even a smart light bulb that your partner put in without you knowing it.

If you don’t need to replace something — don’t. This can help you save money and you’re still getting the results that you want.

7. Choose Your Smart Home Hub

There are some choices for smart home hubs and you need to figure out which one is the right choice for you. These smart home hubs allow you to control all your devices so you can see what devices are available to you.

There are different types of smart home hubs. All of them have their benefits and disadvantages so you’ll need to check through and see which type you want and then you have to pick a brand.

The different types of smart hubs are hardware hubs, software hubs, smart speaker hubs, and combo hubs. Once you determine the kind of hub you want, you might start to notice some of the brand names like Amazon Echo.

Once you choose your smart home hub, use the instructions in the box and connect your smart devices and you’re good to go. Welcome to your smart home.

Learn More About Making Technology Work for You

Now that you know how to go about building a smart home, why stop learning there? Technology is the way of the future so whether you want to work in the technology sector or you just want to be tech-savvy for everyday life, we can help. We have many articles on these topics and other related topics that can help you.

Browse our site, find your favorite section, drop a bookmark and come back soon for more great reads.

When you have a house on the market, those “we buy houses for cash” ads look tempting. Having money in hand and finishing the selling process would take the stress off, but what exactly goes into those transactions?

While cash for homes is a quick process, it’s not for everyone. Urgent financial and moving needs make these offers worth considering.

To help you know what to expect, let’s look at how “buy houses for cash” transactions work.

Contact the Buy for Cash Company

The first thing to do is to find a reputable company that buys houses for cash. There are a lot of scammers out there, so be careful when choosing who to work with. Check with the Better Business Bureau to search for a local we buy houses company with good ratings.

Once you contact a cash buyer, they’ll want to gather some information about your house. The process is easy and depends on the individual company, either fill in a form online or answer some questions over the phone.

They’ll Assess Your House

The next step is for the cash buyer to come out to the house and look over the property.

Appointment times are usually scheduled soon after your initial contact. Many companies promise to assess the house within 24 hours of your phone call, or at least 1 to 2 days out.

They’ll walk the property with you and take note of its condition.

You Can Leave the House As-Is

In most buy houses for cash scenarios, you never have to worry about fixing your home up to sell. Even if the house looks run down or damaged by unruly renters, you won’t need to foot the bill for repairs.

A cash buyer will buy the house as-is. That eliminates the need for home inspections and appraisals, which means the closing process will be a speedy one.

Get a Cash Offer

Now it’s time to get your all-cash offer! As with appointment times, offers are fast and usually comes within 24 hours of initial contact.

Don’t expect to make a profit with an all-cash offer, which can be the downside of going this route. These transactions usually fall well under your home’s market value, with most homeowners only receiving enough to cover the outstanding amount of their mortgage.

Cash for houses is ideal for those in urgent financial situations, houses in poor condition, or for those who need to sell quickly.

Close on the Deal

Once you receive an offer you agree on, the closing will happen faster than a standard closing. Since there’s no need to wait for a buyer to secure financing or deal with inspections, you save a lot of time.

Closing can happen in as little as 7 days, but most cash buyers will work with your individual schedule.

Know What to Expect With Buy Houses for Cash Companies

When you need to get out of your home or loan fast, buy houses for cash offers may be the answer you’ve been looking for. When you know how the process works, you will have the peace of mind knowing if the offer is right for you.

Looking for more real estate advice? Be sure to check out the other articles right here on our blog!

Are you looking to put your home on the market?

If so, it’s important to know that selling your home means more than putting a for sale sign in your yard. If you want to sell your home for a good price, then you need to roll up your sleeves and get to work!

But, what exactly do you need to do to make your home ready to sell?

Check out this selling your home checklist to discover the top things you need to do before listing your house.

1. Make it Welcoming 

They say to not judge a book by its cover, but guess what? Buyers judge houses a lot based on their outward appearance. 

So, before you put your home up for sale, make sure the entrance and outside of your house look as welcoming as possible. Fix broken shingles, paint the front door, prune your hedges, mow the lawn, and declutter the walkway. 

Exterior defects can cause a poor first impression for buyers, so make sure to clean up your exterior as best as possible. 

If you have the time and money, you may even want to consider adding a fresh coat of paint to the outside of your home. 

2. Start Packing Up 

When a home is full of clutter, it appears cramped and small. Also, a home that’s filled with your personal belongings makes it hard for buyers to picture themselves living there. 

To make your space look larger and more inviting, you need to declutter every room. 

Start by packing up excess toys, decorations, furniture, and other things you don’t use on a daily basis. Then, put them in a storage unit. 

3. Focus On Fixing the Small Stuff 

When selling your home, not everything needs to be in like-new condition. However, making minor repairs can really make all the difference. 

Fix leaky sinks, replace broken bulbs, install new hardware in the kitchen and bathroom, refinish hardwood floors, add fresh coats of paint to dingy walls, and replace kitchen appliances as necessary. 

It may seem like a waste of money to fix up a home that you’re no longer going to live in, but trust us, these small repairs can go a long way in terms of resale value. 

However, if all of these repairs feel like too much for you, you should also look into selling your home as-is. Check out this selling my house as is guide to learn more. 

4. Hire a Real Estate Agent 

Last but not least, don’t forget to hire a real estate agent to help you through the home selling process. 

A real estate agent can help you negotiate the selling price of your home. Plus, real estate agents know the local market well and they can advise you on price points, selling tactics, and more. 

Selling Your Home Checklist: Are You Ready to Sell? 

By following this selling your home checklist, your home will be ready to sell in no time. 

If you liked this selling my home checklist, be sure to check back in with our blog for more tips and tricks for homeowners. 

We know water as the “elixir of life” because plants, animals, and humans need fresh water to survive. As our population grows, we realize how scarce and valuable drinking water is and take necessary measures to protect it. 

But what about the tap water in our homes? Is it safe to drink?

Where Does Our Water Come From?

97% of the planet’s water comes from oceans and seas while the remaining is freshwater. Out of that tiny fraction of drinkable water, 2% is locked up in glaciers of ice. So we have 1% of freshwater, which comprises surface water and groundwater.

The tap water we drink, cook, and bathe with comes from surface water sources like streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, or underground sources like aquifers, permeable rocks that can store and transmit water.

However, we have to ensure this is safe water to drink, as pollutants can seep in and result in a range of health issues.

How Does My Tap Water Get Treated?

Regardless of whether we use surface water or groundwater, water suppliers must follow various treatment processes to remove any contaminants.

Common practices include:

Coagulation

This is when suppliers remove the particles on the water’s surface. Then, they add alum and other chemicals to extract the dirt.

Sedimentation

The suppliers remove heavy particles created by the alum and other chemicals, so only clean water remains.

Filtration

Layers of gravel, charcoal, and sand filter the remaining water to remove even smaller particles. 

Disinfection

The suppliers add chemicals like chlorine, so it kills any bacteria or microorganisms in the water.

Storage

The water is now fully clean and transported to the reservoir so it can reach your home.

How Does Drinking Water Get Contaminated?

The Center for Disease Control says the most common sources of contamination in the US’s tap water comes from local land use and manufacturing processes. For example, fertilizers and pesticides used in farming can seep into surface waters if they’re not carefully monitored. 

Further, natural disasters can have an impact, such as massive amounts of rain. Heavy rainfall can result in mudslides and flooding which could leak into rivers, a town’s potential water source. 

Humans can also be a problem from inadequate sanitation to poor protection of drinking water sources. We can end up with sewage- or feces-contaminated water where bacteria and parasites thrive. 

How Do I Know If the Water Is Safe?

63 million Americans, almost a fifth of the United States, live in places where water systems violate safety regulations and do not comply with protecting public health.

Even though most of the water supply is potable, major cities like San Francisco, LA, New York, Boston, and Washington DC have some contaminated water. Rural places areas are more affected than wealthy urban areas, and their water has contaminants that exceed the legal limit. 

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The federal law governing public water sources known as the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) aims to provide the safest drinking water to US residents.

If any factors compromise water safety or its regulations, the local government has to inform people to stop drinking tap water. Also, the community water systems must prepare annual reports about their water.

Before Googling “is tap water safe to drink,” EWG has you covered. They’ve compiled a handy Tap Water Database that pulls 30 million records from state agencies. Just enter your ZIP code to get a report of potential contaminants that flow from your tap. 

What Are the Main Contaminants?

Before you ask “is tap water safe,” we must know the contaminants ruining our clean water supply. These include:

• Fluoride
• Pharmaceutical drugs
• Hexavalent chromium
• Radioactive contaminants
• Arsenic
• Lead, aluminum, and other heavy metals 

Unfortunately, these can cause various health issues such as gastrointestinal ailments, neurological disorders, and even reproductive problems.

Another factor of impure drinking water is the pipes in our houses.

Many homes have galvanized steel water pipes which rust on the inside, thus producing water with a yellow, red, or brown tinge. A practical way to prevent this is by using a water filter, so the water is safe to drink. These filters extract any dirt or rust and produce great-tasting water.

Further, many American homes have hard water flowing from their taps. This makes it harder to clean sinks, tubs, and showers. You can attempt to “soften” the water, but it can just add more sodium. 

Even though clean and safe drinking water is scarce, the US government is developing new methods in water treatment to prevent any unsafe conditions. When we pay attention to the current systems and try to improve them, then more people will get access to this basic human right.

So How Can You Protect Your Drinking Water?

As drinking water is a valuable resource, we must protect it at all costs. Governments are brainstorming ideas because of the ever-growing population, our excessive use, and pollutants that are ruining our water supply.

We must change our lifestyle and aim to be more natural. We should avoid using pesticides or chemical cleaning agents, as they can seep into the groundwater and contaminate it. Even reducing the amount of garbage by recycling can keep our water reserves cleaner.

Tap water is something we’ve taken for granted all our lives. Now, we must pay it forward so future generations and those in rural areas can get enough clean drinking water to survive.

Did you find this article helpful? Check out our articles for similar posts.

There is a point in the life of an older adult when that person realizes things have changed. The person isn’t sure what all has changed, or when, but it is clear that the person is viewing their surroundings through a different lens.

This is the time when the broad issue of home safety for seniors suddenly feels personal for the individual or individuals in question and their loved ones.

The reason the surroundings feel so different is due to changes in the perceiver (the older person), not the perceived (the surroundings). That person has changed gradually but dramatically.

7 Home Modifications to Increase Home Safety for Seniors

We’ll look at seven critical parts or components of a house where older adults, especially those with mobility or sensory issues, often struggle. We’d refer to this as “elder proofing your home,” but what we’ll discuss makes the home safer for us all.

The Front Entryway

Many front entryways can feel treacherous for seniors to navigate. With some modifications and repairs, however, they can become much easier to navigate as well as more welcoming.

The Front Steps

Are the steps intact or crumbling? Do they have ledges (“lips”) that pose a tripping hazard? Is there a railing? In other words, are the front steps safe and easy for a frail person to climb? If not, it’s time for step repairs and maybe a railing.

The Front Sidewalk

Is the pavement smooth or uneven? Are there crumbling patches where someone could get a heel, cane, or walker caught? If you’re already hiring a concrete contractor for the steps, why not add a new sidewalk too?

The Front Porch or Stoop

How much standing room is there here? And is there something (e.g., a railing) to hold on to when opening the door? Would the door itself be easy to open for someone with arthritic hands?

Interior Lighting

What seems like a well-lit home to a younger person might seem dark and shadowy to someone whose vision is starting to fade. Perhaps it’s time to add more light fixtures and make sure they all accommodate LED bulbs.

Not only will the LED bulbs provide more light, but they last much longer than incandescent bulbs and save a good deal of money over the long term. Seniors will appreciate not having to change them very often too.

Also, be sure that halls and stairways have good lighting—especially those seniors are likely to use at night.

Bathroom(s)

It’s easy to assume bathrooms are among the safest and most convenient places in the house for seniors. After all, they’re well-lit and the fixtures are anchored to the floor and/or walls. This would be a wrong assumption, though.

We’ll point out some elder safety tips that will change your perspective on bathroom safety for older people.

Tub and/or Shower

Zero-threshold showers have become very popular lately—for many people, not just seniors. So are rain shower head, hand-held showerheads, and shower chairs. Installing these certainly could add value to your home.

Zero-threshold showers make it easy for seniors to either walk into the shower without tripping or enter in a wheelchair. Some, however, might prefer a walk-in tub, with a handheld showerhead—to use for baths or showers.

Sink and Vanity

If you or your senior loved one uses a wheelchair, it is recommended that the cabinet(s) under the sink be removed so the wheelchair can get as close to the faucet as possible. And remember that storage space should also be accessible.

“The space below the sink in an accessible bathroom should have a 27-inch clearance for knees, and the sink should be no higher than 34 inches. Install a tilted mirror that will allow for a seated person to easily see themselves to get ready.”

Whichever option you choose, there should be multiple sturdy grab bars that could be used by anyone to prevent slipping or falling.

Toilet

“The toilet in an accessible bathroom should be between 17 and 19 inches high so that transferring to a wheelchair or walker is easier and more comfortable.” And grab bars should,  ideally, be placed on either side, with toilet paper in easy reach.

Kitchen

The kitchen shares some accessibility challenges with the bathroom—for example, access to and use of the sink. There are a lot of activities that take place in the kitchen as well.

The kitchen is used for cooking, food storage, storage of dishes and utensils, dish-washing, clean-up, and sometimes eating. There are safety hazards in this space, as well as multiple mobility challenges.

For example, if a senior had reduced sensation, as many do, it could be hard to detect a hot stove burner or scalding water.

And if a senior can even reach high cabinets to get dishes (for example), there is a risk of dropping them and causing injury from either what has fallen or breakage. There are similar concerns with knives and other cutting or chopping tools.

For safety’s sake, we recommend that a professional accessibility and safety consultant be brought in for any kitchen modifications

Walls and Windows

As we age, our circulation tends to worsen and we become cold more easily and find it hard to get—and stay—warm. Do your aging parents (or grandparents) seem to grumble constantly about how cold you keep your own home?

Not only should the HVAC systems be reliable, but the walls and windows should also effectively protect residents from extreme outdoor temperatures—which, when they seep inside—can undo most of the work of the heat and air conditioning.

Stairs

Many seniors dread the stairs. They fear falling—and rightly so. Steps can be narrow. While carpeted stairways can help ease a fall, they also can be slippery. And sometimes there are unseen objects left on the stairs.

Many have had stairlifts or home elevators installed so they can avoid climbing or descending stairs altogether.  This would be our recommendation as well—provided you can afford it. If not, you should consolidate living space on a single floor.

Living Space

This would include kitchen, bath, bedroom, and living room/study. And it would do even more than a lift could to prevent falls and discomfort due to mobility issues. The upper floor can be reserved for guests and storage.

And don’t forget safety during the time(s) when any or all of this recommended work is taking place. Among other things, you should put up portable safety railings to assist with walking through or around the work areas.

Final Thoughts on Home Modifications for Seniors (and others)

What we’ve discussed here could be considered “elderly safety tips.” However, they really could be safety tips for anyone at all. Think about this as you ponder the issue of home safety for seniors.

If you’re renovating to accommodate primarily the needs of an older person, try to focus on a broader range of users than just that individual. Doing these updates should increase the home’s market value. Why?

Consider the principles of universal design (UD), a system of design that tries to meet as many diverse needs as possible through a single effort or project.

The zero-threshold shower discussed above is an example of universal design. Another example is LED lighting. These are efforts that make things easier and more pleasant for most people—while accommodating so-called “special needs.”

We think UD is great! And if you’re looking for other ways to add value to a home, be sure to check out our blog for more ideas.

With temperatures rising across the US and regions such as the South West experience more 100-plus degrees days than ever before, the race is on to find the most efficient ways to keep cool.

AC systems may be dominant in American homes, but they are far from ideal. They guzzle huge amounts of energy, are more expensive than ever, and may even cause health problems.

That’s why the home misting system is rising in popularity as an alternative and complement to AC. Misting systems use water molecules to cool the surrounding air.

You have probably already seen them in hotels and theme parks, which is why you’re considering getting your very own. There are a lot of benefits to having an outdoor mister, but they don’t come without drawbacks.

Here are the key pros and cons that you need to know. 

Pros of an Outdoor Mister

There are several reasons for owning an outdoor mister. We take a look at some of the most important.

Enjoy the Outdoors Year-Round 

Most home cooling systems only work inside the home, meaning that you can’t enjoy your own back yard when the mercury rises.

Gary Sandler from SecondOpinionPlumbingAZ.com says that many people install outdoor misters to be able to enjoy their backyards in the heat of summer. Now you can join them. 

Save on Energy 

Believe it or not, outdoor misters use considerably less energy than other home cooling systems.

The water used compared to an air conditioning unit is a mere fraction. This means that you can keep cool without contributing to climate change, as well as keeping your bills lower. If you’re building a home on a budget this could be right for you.  

Easy to Install and Operate

An outdoor misting system can be set-up within just minutes, without the need for an army of engineers and technicians.

You can install them yourself or get a helping hand from a pro. Either way, you can be sure that it won’t take up your entire day.

Similarly, operating them is a piece of cake, as most are simply attached to the hose on the side of your house. 

Cons of an Outdoor Mister

There are some downsides to using an outdoor mister. Below are some of the things you will need to consider.

Maintenance May Be Needed 

Like many home cooling systems, maintenance will still be needed on a regular basis.

Temperature changes, low water pressure, and leaks will all affect a misting system. Therefore, it’s worth bearing in mind that you will need to be attentive. 

Can Be Costly 

Although less expensive than many other forms of cooling, misting systems certainly can’t be considered cheap.

The price you pay upfront and over the long-run will depend on the complexity of the system, water usage, and any fancy extras you might want with it. Remember to do your research to find the best deal for you. 

Only for Outdoors 

The one might seem pretty obvious, but it bears repeating. Misting systems only offer respite from outdoor heat.

Naturally, you can’t enjoy the benefits of it in your living room, unless you want wet furniture!

Learn More 

An outdoor mister is just one way to enjoy your outdoor space.

You can learn more about enhancing your outdoor areas by taking a look around our site.

Estimates predict that we will spend more than $27 billion on flooring in the US this year.

It’s not that hard to understand. You can’t have a home without flooring after all. 

Choosing the right flooring can make your home look truly stunning. There is a range of options out there to suit any taste. Two of the most popular are hardwood and vinyl.

Read on as we compare vinyl vs. hardwood to see which is right for you.

Looks

One of the key reasons that hardwood floors are so popular is for their timeless looks. So can vinyl flooring match up?

Vinyl flooring can mimic the look of hardwood flooring with photorealistic images of hardwood sealed beneath a clear wear layer. (You can learn more about the construction of vinyl flooring here.) It is becoming increasingly hard to tell vinyl from hardwood at first glance.

If you look closely you will be able to tell the difference, but modern vinyl comes very close to giving hardwood a run for its money on the looks front.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Hardwood floors are fairly easy to maintain.

Sweeping or vacuuming will keep debris and dust at bay, but they cannot be damp mopped as liquid can stain them. If your hardwood floors sustain any serious scratches, they can be sanded and refinished to have them looking as good as new.

Vinyl is even easier to clean. You can sweep and vacuum, but if you have any spills or stains you can also happily wet mop a vinyl floor. The only downside when it comes to maintenance is that if you have major scratches, they cannot be repaired.

Durability

Hardwood floors can last you a lifetime if they are cared for properly. If they’re not properly maintained however the damage can be too severe for them to be refinished properly.

High-quality vinyl flooring now comes with hard wear layers that are extremely long-lasting. Some companies will offer warranties of 20 years or more on their products. 

Damage to hardwood floors is more likely to be repairable. A rip to your vinyl flooring means it will probably need replacing. 

Cost

When it comes to cost, there’s no contest at all. 

Even the cheapest low-quality hardwood floor will cost you more than high-quality vinyl flooring. If you want high-quality hardwood you can be looking at up to five times the price. 

If cost is an important consideration then vinyl flooring wins hands down.

Vinyl vs. Hardwood: Which Is Your Choice?

We hope this article on vinyl vs. hardwood has helped you to make your own decision. If you’re looking for flooring for an investment property then both types of flooring have their merits. 

If you’ve yet to find the investment property you want, then we can help with that too. On our supersite of Miami luxury real estate, we’re sure you’ll find the perfect investment property for your needs.

Check out our listings today.