Thursday, January 31, 2019
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Friday, January 25, 2019
Live in Atlanta and want to rent your room out for the super bowl??
Looking to make a few bucks and don't mind having strangers crashing at your place?
Well, I have the answer for you. The average rental rate per night for Super Bowl Weekend in Atlanta is $441 per night!!!
Well, I have the answer for you. The average rental rate per night for Super Bowl Weekend in Atlanta is $441 per night!!!
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
JUST BECAUSE YOU QUALIFY FOR A CERTAIN LOAN AMOUNT DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD SPEND THAT MUCH ON A HOUSE
If you have a conversation with a mortgage broker, they will answer the question, “How much can we qualify to borrow?” You can likely qualify for as much as 43% debt to income. That means the total of all your debt payments, plus the mortgage, can be up to 43% of your gross income. If you decide to go that high, you may end up feeling house poor after paying for other expenses like taxes, food and dining out with friends and family.
The general rule of thumb is to try and keep your total housing cost below 30% of your gross income. The lower the better. Of course, the more debt you have (car payments, student loans, credit cards) the more pressure your budget will feel with a mortgage this high, or worse, higher. Don’t set yourself up to be house poor for the next thirty years. Life is stressful enough.
There are some exceptions to this rule. For those with large savings but lower income, you may feel more comfortable with a slightly higher debt-to-income ratio. That is especially true if you have the cash to pay off the mortgage at any time. The other exception is for self-employed folks who often look much poorer on paper than they likely are. With all of the available tax breaks for small business owners, they may have more disposable income to spend on housing than one might expect based on their net income.
Monday, January 21, 2019
GREAT ARTICLE ON DETERMINING IF YOU ARE READY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP
Five Signs You’re Ready for Homeownership
Homeownership: It’s the American Dream.
For many first-time homebuyers, the decision to make that dream come true revolves around life events like marriage, childbirth and career moves. For others, it might just be that desire to stop paying rent. Home equity sure sounds nice about now, right?
But before you hit the housing market on your own, there are many considerations to be made, such as discovering if you are financially and personally ready to take on such a responsibility.
Think you have the chops to tackle the biggest purchase of your life? Here are five signs you’re ready for homeownership — and a few of the first steps you can take to help make it happen.
1) You’re a Good Renter
If you have no trouble paying your rent on time, in addition to other bills like utilities, Internet and television, then you should have no trouble with paying a mortgage (as long as it’s in your monthly budget).
“One of the best predictors of being ready for homeownership is solid performance as a renter,” says Rick Sharga, executive vice president of Ten-X, an online real estate transaction marketplace. “Making timely, consistent rent payments suggests that someone is financially responsible enough to also make regular mortgage payments.”
While that may be true, it’s also important to understand the additional monthly costs associated with homeownership.
“It’s really important to understand that the cost of homeownership isn’t limited to principal and interest payments,” adds Sharga. “Borrowers also need to factor in state and local taxes, homeowner’s insurance, utilities, cable/satellite, homeowner association fees and maintenance.”
In addition, there are other upfront costs you may have to pay monthly. It’s important to take the proper steps to outline all these costs and budget accordingly.
2) You Have Job Security
The next clear sign is job security. If you love your job and don’t plan on leaving in the foreseeable future, now may be a great time to buy a home.
“Uncertainty will almost certainly ruin any prospects of buying a home,” says Than Merrill, CEO and founder of FortuneBuilders and former host of A&E’s Flip This House. “So before you make a 30-year commitment to mortgage premiums, make sure you are secure in your employment position.”
If not, it may be wiser to wait off for a while and build up your working portfolio. Once you’ve found the career and employer that you’re happy with, it may be time to reconsider homeownership.
For many first-time homebuyers, the decision to make that dream come true revolves around life events like marriage, childbirth and career moves. For others, it might just be that desire to stop paying rent. Home equity sure sounds nice about now, right?
But before you hit the housing market on your own, there are many considerations to be made, such as discovering if you are financially and personally ready to take on such a responsibility.
Think you have the chops to tackle the biggest purchase of your life? Here are five signs you’re ready for homeownership — and a few of the first steps you can take to help make it happen.
1) You’re a Good Renter
If you have no trouble paying your rent on time, in addition to other bills like utilities, Internet and television, then you should have no trouble with paying a mortgage (as long as it’s in your monthly budget).
“One of the best predictors of being ready for homeownership is solid performance as a renter,” says Rick Sharga, executive vice president of Ten-X, an online real estate transaction marketplace. “Making timely, consistent rent payments suggests that someone is financially responsible enough to also make regular mortgage payments.”
While that may be true, it’s also important to understand the additional monthly costs associated with homeownership.
“It’s really important to understand that the cost of homeownership isn’t limited to principal and interest payments,” adds Sharga. “Borrowers also need to factor in state and local taxes, homeowner’s insurance, utilities, cable/satellite, homeowner association fees and maintenance.”
In addition, there are other upfront costs you may have to pay monthly. It’s important to take the proper steps to outline all these costs and budget accordingly.
2) You Have Job Security
The next clear sign is job security. If you love your job and don’t plan on leaving in the foreseeable future, now may be a great time to buy a home.
“Uncertainty will almost certainly ruin any prospects of buying a home,” says Than Merrill, CEO and founder of FortuneBuilders and former host of A&E’s Flip This House. “So before you make a 30-year commitment to mortgage premiums, make sure you are secure in your employment position.”
If not, it may be wiser to wait off for a while and build up your working portfolio. Once you’ve found the career and employer that you’re happy with, it may be time to reconsider homeownership.
3) You Know What You’re Looking For
Another sure sign that you’re ready to own a home is that you know what kind of home you’re looking for and that you’re looking in the right market.
“Now is the time to ask yourself what you’re looking for in a new home,” says Merrill. “Understanding what you want out of your first home will ultimately make the process that much easier.”
Ask yourself the following questions. If you know the answers, you just might be ready:
• What is most important to you and your family?
• How many bedrooms do you need? Does that accommodate for a growing family?
• What type of neighborhood are you looking for?
• How far away are you willing to commute to work?
“This is also the time to match what it is you are looking for with your predetermined budget,” adds Merrill. “At the very least, what you expect to spend should narrow things down a bit.”
Then, it’s time to start comparing those options to your market of interest. In certain markets, there may not be homes that match your criteria and budget. In others, there may be an overload of options.
“It all depends on the current state of the particular market you are interested in,” Merrill says. “So while interest rates are important, it is equally important to own in the right market.”
4) You Have Good Credit
The next step is to check your credit, which can be done for free atAnnualCreditReport.com.
“Another sign is having a strong credit score (a FICO score over 700) without carrying excessive debt,” says Sharga. “If a borrower’s lifestyle is only sustainable because he or she is running up huge credit card debt, they’re likely to get themselves into some financial trouble when they buy a home, which typically requires purchasing furniture, fixtures, appliances and other items.”
Your credit score will dramatically affect your ability to get a loan, your down payment and monthly mortgage payments.
“Few things impact your ability to buy a home more than your credit score,” says Merrill. “In fact, it can be argued that your credit score serves as the foundation for the entire homebuying process.”
While Sharga suggests a score of more than 700, the Federal Housing Administration suggests having a score of 580 or better, but those between 500 and 579 are limited to a 90-percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.
Your next steps? Check your score at least 12 months before buying a home. If you’re score isn’t quite where’d you’d like it to be, it might be best to delay homeownership while you build up your score.
5) You Understand the Buying Process
Finally, if you already understand the entire process of buying a new home, you’re on the right track.
If not, don’t worry. There are thousands of financial institutions and homebuying experts in the world who are there to help make it easy for you.
Below are a few key points to remember and research about the buying process:
• Find a trusted lender. One of the most important people you’ll work with in the buying process is your lender. They’re there to help you get preapproval for a mortgage loan and to help you understand the total costs of buying a home.
• The down payment. While it is not always required that you put 20 percent down, this rate is a good number to aim for to limit the costs of your loan, says Merrill. Still, there are many down payment assistance programs available when 20 percent is not an option.
• A savings plan. Develop this after you have determined how much you need to put down. The banks or credit unions in your area will want to see a history of stable funds in your account before you apply for a loan.
• Your debt-to-income ratio. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau has established new lending rules that set a hard cap of a 43 percent debt-to-income ratio in order to qualify for a conventional mortgage. “As a rule of thumb, borrowers should probably aim for spending 28 to 33 percent of their net income on housing,” says Sharga.
• Cash reserve. Sharga adds that cash reserve, after accounting for the down payment, is another great sign of readiness. Having savings on-hand to cover about three to six months of living expenses and unexpected emergencies is another smart goal.
It’s never a good idea to jump into the homebuying process blind. After you’ve taken the time to speak with your builder, financial experts and advisors to fully understand the process, that’s when you truly know you’re ready for homeownership.
Another sure sign that you’re ready to own a home is that you know what kind of home you’re looking for and that you’re looking in the right market.
“Now is the time to ask yourself what you’re looking for in a new home,” says Merrill. “Understanding what you want out of your first home will ultimately make the process that much easier.”
Ask yourself the following questions. If you know the answers, you just might be ready:
• What is most important to you and your family?
• How many bedrooms do you need? Does that accommodate for a growing family?
• What type of neighborhood are you looking for?
• How far away are you willing to commute to work?
“This is also the time to match what it is you are looking for with your predetermined budget,” adds Merrill. “At the very least, what you expect to spend should narrow things down a bit.”
Then, it’s time to start comparing those options to your market of interest. In certain markets, there may not be homes that match your criteria and budget. In others, there may be an overload of options.
“It all depends on the current state of the particular market you are interested in,” Merrill says. “So while interest rates are important, it is equally important to own in the right market.”
4) You Have Good Credit
The next step is to check your credit, which can be done for free atAnnualCreditReport.com.
“Another sign is having a strong credit score (a FICO score over 700) without carrying excessive debt,” says Sharga. “If a borrower’s lifestyle is only sustainable because he or she is running up huge credit card debt, they’re likely to get themselves into some financial trouble when they buy a home, which typically requires purchasing furniture, fixtures, appliances and other items.”
Your credit score will dramatically affect your ability to get a loan, your down payment and monthly mortgage payments.
“Few things impact your ability to buy a home more than your credit score,” says Merrill. “In fact, it can be argued that your credit score serves as the foundation for the entire homebuying process.”
While Sharga suggests a score of more than 700, the Federal Housing Administration suggests having a score of 580 or better, but those between 500 and 579 are limited to a 90-percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.
Your next steps? Check your score at least 12 months before buying a home. If you’re score isn’t quite where’d you’d like it to be, it might be best to delay homeownership while you build up your score.
5) You Understand the Buying Process
Finally, if you already understand the entire process of buying a new home, you’re on the right track.
If not, don’t worry. There are thousands of financial institutions and homebuying experts in the world who are there to help make it easy for you.
Below are a few key points to remember and research about the buying process:
• Find a trusted lender. One of the most important people you’ll work with in the buying process is your lender. They’re there to help you get preapproval for a mortgage loan and to help you understand the total costs of buying a home.
• The down payment. While it is not always required that you put 20 percent down, this rate is a good number to aim for to limit the costs of your loan, says Merrill. Still, there are many down payment assistance programs available when 20 percent is not an option.
• A savings plan. Develop this after you have determined how much you need to put down. The banks or credit unions in your area will want to see a history of stable funds in your account before you apply for a loan.
• Your debt-to-income ratio. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau has established new lending rules that set a hard cap of a 43 percent debt-to-income ratio in order to qualify for a conventional mortgage. “As a rule of thumb, borrowers should probably aim for spending 28 to 33 percent of their net income on housing,” says Sharga.
• Cash reserve. Sharga adds that cash reserve, after accounting for the down payment, is another great sign of readiness. Having savings on-hand to cover about three to six months of living expenses and unexpected emergencies is another smart goal.
It’s never a good idea to jump into the homebuying process blind. After you’ve taken the time to speak with your builder, financial experts and advisors to fully understand the process, that’s when you truly know you’re ready for homeownership.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Here are a couple of tips to save money on your home improvement
Tip 1: Spend an hour with a pro.
Invite a realtor or interior designer over to check out your home. Many realtors will do this as a courtesy, but you will probably have to pay a consultation fee to a designer. Check with several designers in your area; a standard hourly fee is normally less than $100, and in an hour they can give you lots of ideas for needed improvements. Even small suggested improvements, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home.
Invite a realtor or interior designer over to check out your home. Many realtors will do this as a courtesy, but you will probably have to pay a consultation fee to a designer. Check with several designers in your area; a standard hourly fee is normally less than $100, and in an hour they can give you lots of ideas for needed improvements. Even small suggested improvements, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home.
Tip 2: Inspect it.
Not every home improvement is cosmetic. Deteriorating roofs, termite infestation or outdated electrical systems — you can't fix it if you don't know it's broken. Hire an inspector to check out the areas of your home that you don't normally see. They may discover hidden problems that could negatively impact your home's value. Small problems (such as a hidden water leak) can become big, expensive problems quickly; the longer you put off repairs, the more expensive those repairs will be.
Not every home improvement is cosmetic. Deteriorating roofs, termite infestation or outdated electrical systems — you can't fix it if you don't know it's broken. Hire an inspector to check out the areas of your home that you don't normally see. They may discover hidden problems that could negatively impact your home's value. Small problems (such as a hidden water leak) can become big, expensive problems quickly; the longer you put off repairs, the more expensive those repairs will be.
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Steps to Saving for a house!
Let's start with some great news: You DON'T need 20% down to buy a house. In our market, here in Raleigh, North Carolina, and in a lot of other places, you can buy a home with 0% down
A great way to build wealth over a period of time is through the building of home equity. Obviously, this means that one of the main requirements needed to build this home equity is to actually own a home. Many aspiring home buyers typically run into the problem of acquiring the funds needed to make their first down payment on a new home. Not a problem. This article lists the many steps a person can take to save up the money needed to do just that.
More than likely, one of the biggest single purchases an individual will make during their lifetime will be purchasing a home. When dealing with the prospects of buying real estate, understanding the full ins and outs of the process should be of the utmost importance. Being aware of the total cost of everything, along with what you can afford, will put you in a great position. This will enable you to properly prepare for your future purchase.
At the time of closing the deal on your new home, there will be a one-time payment made in cash referred to as a “down payment”. Being as though your mortgage payments each month, as well as the initial value of your home equity, is determined by your down payment, it’s crucial to understand the long-term financial effect it can have on you and your budget.
Buying a home is not for everyone. In my local market, Raleigh, North Carolina, you really shouldn't be afraid to pull the trigger on a house. If it's anywhere near a decent deal it's going to be a good investment. A lot of people want to buy a home and will never execute because they're afraid to pull the trigger or making a mistake. It's a lot harder to make a mistake in a strong market like we have in Raleigh.
You should think about your timeline when trying to decide if renting or buying is the best option for you. One well-known concept and rule to live by is that in order to reconcile all transaction fees and closing costs associated with purchasing a home is that you must own it for about 5 to 7 years. It should go without saying that since prices and costs vary from one location to the next, the time exact time frame will depend on the area you choose to reside in. In order to assist with figuring out the costs between renting and buying, numerous online calculators have been created that can be used completely free. You should take advantage of these to gain great insights that can be beneficial in helping you decide on the best course of action.
One little-known fact is that the actual seller can decide to pay for the closing costs. How much they actually pay can vary, but it isn’t uncommon to find sellers who actually pay the entire closing cost, or at the very least, a portion of it. This will help you, as the buyer, recover any costs you had to pay in a shorter time span.
It’s important to keep this one fact in mind: The bigger the amount of your down payment, the more money you’ll likely save long-term. To save up for that bigger down payment the smart way, follow the tips that follow.
Decide on a Goal
The first step you should take when you to start to save up for that down payment is figuring out exactly how much you’ll need. Make an appointment with a mortgage lender. He or she will not only tell you the amount that will be needed as a down payment, but they’ll also be able to educate you on how much you’ll be able to prequalify for in regards to a home loan.
As a rule of thumb, after calculating your monthly income, the expenses for your house should not be greater than 28% of that. With an income of about $5,000 every month, about $1,400 should be set aside as part of your future down payment. If you didn’t understand the math, $5000 x 28% = $1400.
The $1,400 is made up of a variety of things such as interest incurred on the mortgage along with the mortgage’s principal amount, PMI also referred to as Private Mortgage Insurance, HOA fees (Home Owner’s Association) if applicable, taxes for Real Estate, and even Homeowner’s Insurance.
Figure Out Your Timeframe
Next on the list of steps is to figure out your timeframe.
Keep in mind that since you’re saving this money for a specific purpose, it shouldn’t be saved in any type of other investments if your goal is to buy a house. Store your funds in a separate bank account if it will help you avoid the temptation of withdrawing.
We are aware that you’ll be able to obtain a higher return on your money by investing in things such as stocks and real estate, but doing so exposed you to unnecessary risks. You don’t want to lose all of the money you’ve been saving up for so long. You want to buy a house. It’s ok to miss out on those potential returns because you’ll also be missing out on those potential losses as well.
Allow Room in Your Budget
Considering that we’re talking about putting thousands of dollars to the side every year, it’s necessary to create a budget that will allow you to do so. This might even require gaining some type of extra income, lowering your expenses wherever possible, or possibly both.
This may require you to get rid of some of your expenses completely. This can be a good thing because not only will it assist you in saving your down payment money, but it’ll also get you accustomed to the dealing with the tight budgets that many homeowners have to work with. You’ll me more prepared than expected when the time comes.
Create an Automatic Savings Plan
If saving money isn’t your specialty, automating the process will come in handy. With the assistance of payroll saving plans such as 401(k)s, you can have a specified dollar or percentage withdrawn you’re your paycheck into the account effortlessly. There are also other accounts such as regular savings and Money Market accounts that your money can be directly deposited to from your paychecks that can be used to build your down payment savings.
The great thing about this process is that it’s completely hands-free after the initial setup. What makes it so effective is the fact that you don’t even see the money, so you don’t miss it from your paycheck. This “invisible” savings make it easier to continue to do so. The desire to spend the funds you should be saving is pretty removed from your mind.
Save All of That Extra Cash
The process of saving the down payment money can become easier, along with the timeframe becoming shorter, by saving all extra cash received. Make a habit of adding all extra income to your down payment savings such as tax refunds, commissions, bonus checks, lottery winnings, cash gifts, etc. You’ll be happy you did in the long run.
You’d be amazed by how fast that down payment accumulates when you follow this tip. Don’t be surprised to find out that you’ve actually managed to knock a few years off of your previously calculated timeframe.
Make Sure Your Savings Plan Is Flexible
Regardless of how much your down payment is, you’ll want to be certain that your savings plan is flexible. Life throws plenty of unexpected situations. These can have a huge impact on your budget and finances. Things such as medical emergencies, car problems, loss of employment, and even family matters can cause a hit to your funds. Just because you have goals you are trying to reach doesn’t mean life won’t throw some unexpected situations your way. Make sure there’s a spot in your budget dedicated to these exact situations.
As long as you manage to prepare for these potential issues in advance, you’ll be able to deal with them as they come without being deterred from your goal of saving for that down payment. The problems will get solved and your down payment funds will continue to grow. No matter what the unexpected issue is, you’ll still find yourself in a win-win position. Just remember to make sure this part of your budget always has funds.
In all reality, this is nothing more than preparation for being a home owner. All of your current expenses will still exist when you buy a home. You might even have some additional home-related ones as well. By practicing this tip now, you’ll be more than capable of handling them just as well with the added responsibilities of homeownership.
Determine What You’ll Be Able to Afford
Common sense would tell you that prior to starting your search for a home, you should know what you’ll be able to afford. Don't be afraid of talking with a mortgage lender. After determining that, then look to see if you can find what you’d like in that price range.
To figure out what’s affordable, remember to factor in all of the previously mentioned costs and fees such as Homeowner’s Insurance, Gas, Water, Electricity, Real Estate taxes, mortgage payments each month, etc. In the event that you’re a part of a couple or will be sharing the expenses with someone else, it’d be a good idea to find a home you like that’ll you be able to have all of the expenses taken care of with just one paycheck. Bankrate has created a calculator that will assist you figuring out what you’ll be able to afford.
Websites such as Zillow.com can help you find homes in your price range in your desired area. You can also seek out the help of a trusted real estate agent. Being as though homes can vary anywhere in price from, $100,000 up to the millions, affordability will be determined by your current income as well as your savings.
Using Your IRA to Purchase Your First Home
First time home owners can actually receive a certain tax break from the IRS. You’re allowed to withdraw up to $10,000 from your IRA in order to purchase or build your first home for you and/or any of your loved ones at any age completely penalty free.
One thing that should be remembered is the $10,000 cap is a lifetime one. It’s not per year. If married, both spouses can use the $10,000 cap. This equals $20,000 between the both of them. One of the stipulations is that you’d have to make use of the funds within 120 days of withdrawing it.
Another thing to take note of is that there are two types of IRAs. One is a traditional IRA and you’ll be required to pay taxes on any funds you withdraw from it. The other is a Roth IRA. This type of IRA allows you to withdraw funds completely tax-free. Because it’ll be tax-free, the account must be open for at least 5 years before you withdraw funds from it.
It's highly recommended to discuss IRA withdrawals with a certified tax professional prior to taking any funds out of it. They can provide you with all of the pros and cons associated with it and advise you on the proper course of action you should take.
Building Wealth Through Building Equity
You’ve finally managed to accumulate those funds needed to make the down payment on that new home. Congratulations! You are officially a homeowner now! The next thing to make sure you understand is that you’re now in the process of building equity.
As you make more and more mortgage payments, you’ll acquire more and more property. Not only will your property value go up, your equity will increase as well. Because of this, in the event you decide you’d like to sell your home, you’ll probably have a down payment that’s larger than the initial one that you started out with. This is one of the ways that you’ll be building your wealth.
Final Thoughts on Saving for a Down payment
One of the more difficult parts of buying a house is having enough cash to ensure you can afford both the down payment as well as the closing costs. If you have limited funds you can still buy a house you just have to be more strategic about which loan program you use, as well as how you structure the deal for the sellers. There are a lot of great programs for first-time buyers.
There are a lot of ways in which the sellers can contribute funds to your closing costs in the form of cash back at closing. A lot of buyers will utilize this strategy when purchasing a home with limited funds because it allows them some breathing room after they move in.
Friday, January 18, 2019
The Home Improvement Projects DIYers Regret the Most—You'll Never Guess No. 1
By Clare Trapasso | Jan 8, 2019
Binge-watching HGTV home improvement shows can make it look so easy—even enjoyable—to do anything from retiling a bathroom to repainting the living room. Heck, it even seems like it might make financial sense to forgo the pricy professionals altogether. What could go wrong?
Those famous last words have led nearly two-thirds of do-it-yourselfers to regret not calling an expert on at least one home improvement project, according to a recent survey from ImproveNet. The online home services marketplace surveyed 2,000 Americans in November who had attempted at least one DIY renovation project.
The average DIY enthusiast attempted eight projects, according to the survey. And about a third of them had to later hire a professional to redo the job—which can cost more than if they'd hired a professional from the start.
Related Articles
"People should educate themselves about what they’re getting into and what the common pitfalls are," says Andy Kerns, creative director at Digital Third Coast, which teamed up with ImproveNet to do the survey. "It’s natural for people to expect things to go smoothly, especially if they’re not experienced contractors. [But] rather than just jumping in, people should find out what’s happened when things didn’t go well for others."
Folks with no experience can start with a simple, low-stakes project, and go from there, says Joanne Theunissen, the remodeling chair of the National Association of Home Builders.
"We have seen people take on a lot more than they could deal with," says Theunissen, also the co-owner of Howling Hammer Builders, a Mount Pleasant, MI–based remodeler and custom builder. "Be cautious. If it looks easy on TV, understand it's not [in real life]."
Which projects did folks regret doing themselves the most?
If you don't have experience installing floor tiles, you may want to start slow, rather than in the master bath: That was ranked the most regretted home improvement project by survey participants.
"It's so difficult, and there are so many steps to getting it right," says Theunissen. "If you think you want to try, buy an old table and see if you can put ceramic tile on the top, getting it level and grouted correctly. And if doesn’t work, throw it away. You’re not out much.”
The rest of the top 10 most regretted DIY home improvement projects were replacing a ceiling; refinishing hardwood floors; installing carpets; finishing basements; installing hardwood floors; refinishing cabinetry; installing sprinklers; installing showers and baths; and painting home interiors.
Why were these DIY projects so regrettable?
The majority of DIYers, 55%, said their projects took longer to complete than they expected. The ones that ran over more than anticipated the most were repairing home foundations, installing outdoor patios and walkways, and painting the exteriors of their homes.
Meanwhile, about 50% of do-it-yourselfers said their improvements were physically more difficult than anticipated, particularly when it came to installing roofs, landscaping, or installing patios and walkways. And 48% said their endeavors were technically harder than they had counted on, and 17% said they cost more than they had assumed.
Some projects even caused harm to their homes—and themselves. About 8% said their places were damaged as a result of the undertakings, mostly with repairing foundations, replacing ceilings, and installing roofs. And 6% were injured in the process. So be careful with installing fireplaces and windows and repairing foundations!
“A lot of people do very nice work, but you have to be really aware of what your skills are," says Theunissen.
So what was the top reason folks were disappointed in the fruits of their blood, sweat, and now tears? About 55% of respondents said the finished project simply didn't look as good as they had hoped. These folks were the most dissatisfied with their interior paint jobs, floor tile installations, and hardwood floor installations.
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Link to a great article on setting a budget for a kitchen remodel!!
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Monday, January 14, 2019
Friday, January 11, 2019
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Join me this Sunday fro 1-4 PM for a chance to check out this great Canton property!
https://www.listreports.com/downloads/reports/SkgfEDKwEX/pdf_flyer
https://www.listreports.com/downloads/reports/SkgfEDKwEX/pdf_flyer
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
My Featured Listing
2729 Parkwood Ave.
1 bedroom 1 bath
Contact me for more information!
2729 Parkwood Ave.
1 bedroom 1 bath
Contact me for more information!
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Great article on the 3 types of lighting that every home needs!!
https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/room-ideas/a8183/the-3-types-of-lighting-every-room-needs/
https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/room-ideas/a8183/the-3-types-of-lighting-every-room-needs/
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
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