Coldwell Banker American Homes Blog
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1
6 Costs Homeowners Overlook and How to Pay for Them
For many people, a house is the biggest investment they'll ever make. And whether you're a first-time homeowner or you're buying your third property, you're bound to end up covering some unexpected expenses. Here are six costs homeowners tend to overlook and how to pay for them:
1. Property taxes
Be prepared to pay property taxes and keep in mind that they rarely decrease. Homeowners often pay them every month along with their mortgage payments. If your loan is backed by the Federal Housing Administration, you're required to have an escrow or impound account.
If you don't have to make property tax payments through an escrow account, they may be due at the end of the year. In some counties, you might pay them in installments.
2. Homeowners association fees
Whenever you move into a new ho...
4
What to Check Before Your Home Inspection
If you're listing your home, you may be getting ready to schedule a home inspection. However, there are a few things you should do before the inspector arrives.
"A bad home inspection can be devastating to your home's value," says Jerry Hall, owner of Assured Comfort Heating, Air & Plumbing, "so it's imperative to take the necessary steps to prepare."
Assured Comfort Heating, Air & Plumbing offers the following tips to prepare for a home inspection:
Check for and repair any leaks. According to the EPA, the average household wastes more than 10,000 gallons of water a year due to leaks. An easy way to test for a leak is to plan a two-hour period when no water will be used and then examine the water meter at the beginning and end of the period. If it changed, the presence of a leak is likely. All faucets, indoor a...
21
DIY deck re-do: Resurface in a weekend
(BPT) - Outdoor living season means backyard BBQs, yard games and relaxing with a good book or good friends. If you own a wood deck, however, it also means considerable time and money spent on seasonal maintenance and deck repairs.
While wood decks are aesthetically pleasing, properly maintaining them requires regular stripping, sanding and staining. The process is labor-intensive, time-consuming, messy and costly - averaging between $540 and $1,050 each time, according to HomeAdvisor.com.
Consider this: For the same time and energy you would spend maintaining and repairing those old wood boards, you could replace them with a deck made of structurally superior composite material - and never again have to worry about upk...
11
Speed Clean Your Space in 15 Minutes
We've all been there: That afternoon you planned to spend cleaning got eaten up with other commitments, and now your dinner guests are on their way, but the house is a mess. Whatever the reason, here are 7 ways to fake that clean home, fast.
All hands on deck. If you're lucky enough to have family members or roommates around, ask them to pitch in. Divvy up rooms to declutter and tidy. If you don't have any helping hands, you'll just have to continue to the next steps, solo.
Focus on trafficked areas. Since time is short, make sure to focus on rooms your guests will frequent, like the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. The entryway is also important, as it's the first thing your guests will see, so hang the jackets, straighten those shoes and stash that mail stack.
Freshen air. As yo...
8
Safety Tips for Your Electrical System
The safety of our home's electric system is often something we take for granted. From hitting a switch to illuminate your space, to plugging in and charging your devices, we rarely consider the currents coursing through our walls. However, to keep your family safe and your home secure, it's important to consider your electrical system, and whether or not your system is safe.
Get to know your electrical system better – First and foremost, spend some time becoming more familiar with the home's electric system. Learn what runs on each circuit, and get to know the limits for each. Overloads can be dangerous, and electrical fires from overloads can do a lot of damage in a little amount of time.
Don't overdo it with extension cords – Extension cords are great for reaching a little further with items...