Category: My Blog

Your home is your sanctuary. Your safe space.

After a bone-breaking day at work, it is the one place that brings utmost comfort to you.
To ensure that your house keeps on being as secure and comfortable as you would like it to be, it is essential to invest your time, money, and efforts in home improvement measures.
You are not the only homeowner choosing between various types of home improvements, ranging from renovation to repair. Instead, the industry is one of the most fast-growing sectors! According to Statista, In the US alone, it is predicted to account for over 464.5 billion dollars worth of sales.

As per research conducted by iProperty Management, 68 percent of USA consumers used home improvement websites for guidance while 57 percent of consumers finally gained enough purchasing power to invest in home improvements.

Since the home improvement industry is quite diverse and complicated, as a homeowner, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

Don’t worry! We are here to guide you through the entire process. Here are some home improvement tips you should consider whenever you wish to liven up your abode.

1. Think about what adds value to your house the most

One of the first things most homeowners do when they decide on a budget for home improvements is to make a list of all the things that are trending. Whether it be changing the entire living room furniture or refinishing all the hardwood floors, many let trends sway them into investing in aspects that their abodes don’t require.

This is something you should strive to avoid at all costs!

Rather than dividing your budget on changes your house can do without, first take a step back and analyze what measures will add the most value to your home. Here, the amount signifies functional, aesthetic, and commercial appeal.

In other words, the home improvement steps you take should make your house more comfortable to live in, more visually pleasing for others, and should amplify the price of your home in the market.

Want to find out how much your house is worth? The Property Buying Company can help you achieve a quick sale and free valuation.

2. Consider the urgency of each project

Some improvements are not just more expensive but also more time-consuming. Others might take less than a few minutes to complete. Usually, the first instinct is to focus on short-term projects while leaving the time-consuming ones for when you have free time on your hand.

However, rather than making your decision based on the time duration of each project, it is much better to look at the urgency of it.

For starters, let’s say your roof starts leaking, and it requires complete reconstruction. While this is a time-consuming process, if you ignore this issue, you will end up causing devastating damage to your precious abode.

Make sure to gauge the urgency of each repair and renovation and prioritize accordingly.

3. Ponder between doing it yourself or hiring a contractor

Some people have a creative bone in them, which allows them to redo the look of their entire house without any third-party help. This is especially true for painting the walls of different rooms. Some of the DIY projects done look exemplary.

There are various other types of home improvements that can be made by the homeowner. This can include small repairs like pipe leaks. To cut steel pipes for your project, you may need a pipe threading machine. However, various other types of home improvement measures cannot be done without professional help.

You must draw the line between what is possible and what is not. Know what your limits are and don’t stretch your horizons too much. This is because unless you are good at them, certain repairs are best left for professionals. After all, the safety and beauty of your house depend on it.

4. Find inspiration

For homeowners, there can be no better platform than Pinterest! The site allows you to draw inspiration from different people and collectively build the look you want for each room of your house.

The smart idea is to look at references online for home renovations rather than going in blindly. This will reduce the risk. Think about it. The last thing any homeowner wishes to do is end up investing in home décor that you don’t even like when it is finished!

At the same time, don’t take trends to heart. Only utilize those who will bring value to you. For example, filing cabinets tend to be excellent for storage needs. This is one trend that has great utility and hence should be adopted.

The idea is to take inspiration from different sources and then analyze each idea. Implement those which work best for you.

5. Choose your contractor carefully

At the end of the day, if homeowners don’t hire the right contractor, it doesn’t matter what home improvement measures you choose. All you are required to do is go online and read some of the horror stories narrated by homeowners who had to suffer due to scams by amateur contractors.

You will learn one major lesson via it all never settle for a contractor solely based on the price they charge. Trying to save a few bucks here will end up costing you thousands of dollars as you redo your entire house!

Hence, make sure that you select your contractor very carefully. Ask around in your friend circle. Read reviews of potential contractors online. Look at their portfolios. Once each of these boxes ticks, you can then focus on the budget.

Understandably, not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars on home improvements. Cost is an important metric. Here too, you must strike the right balance. Set the right budget, and you will surely find a contractor that matches your requirements.

Verdict

These five home improvement tips can end up making all the difference to your house. Your abode is your sanctuary. Treat it like one by periodically investing in it! This way, your home will always remain as safe and comfortable as you want it to.…

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Feeling like your house needs a change? If you’re looking forward to a house makeover, it’s time to wow your guests with these 3 house improvement tips that our expert, Anniston, highly recommends.

1. Get a new paint

Anniston’s first tip is to get a new color on your wall. Choose the colors that will suit your interior theme and try to play with or combine different tones and textures for a modern yet unique feel. If you need help with your wall makeover, just book our professional painting service. Get fast confirmation and impress your guests now!

2. Replace old cabinets

Beautify and make your kitchen more practical with a refurbished cabinet or get a brand new one! Try to avoid plastic or metal materials as the design tends to come off cold and a little dull, instead, go for a minimalist approach with wood themes for a more luxurious feel.

3. Renovate your outdoor area

Note that your outdoor area is just as important as your indoor. If you have extra space, our experts suggest tiling up your car porch area to make it more luxurious. Or if you have an empty landscape or empty yard, you can also create your own mini garden.

As a final tip, it is very important to consult professionals to make your dream house come true. If you need help with your house improvement, our renovation services might just be perfect for you. Find painting service, cabinetry, curtain installation, and more!…

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When it comes to being able to achieve a high standard of excellence in regard to your TIG and plasma welding, then it is important to know what to consider when you are interested in tungsten grinders in order to ensure optimal welding results. Therefore, to help you out, we will mention some things that we think are highly important to keep in mind when you are searching for your next new top-quality hand held tungsten grinder.

Offers grinding for various sizes of tungstens

The portable tungsten grinder should be able to provide great grinding for various sizes of tungstens. This is based on the reality that you will have different types of welding that you will be doing, as every welding project certainly is different. Therefore, it is understandable that the grinder should be able to accommodate different sizes of tungstens that will need to undergo the process of grinding for your wide array of welding endeavors.

Various sizes of angles tips

Due to the fact that you will be doing different types of welding that require the grinding of various sizes of tungstens, this means that there should be the inclusion of different sizes of angles tips when you get your portable tungsten grinder. The angles tips will allow you to achieve diverse angles during the process of welding. Circumstances will involve welding different objects, which makes the need for a variety of sizes of angles tips of prime importance.

Convenience of full grinding package

It is also ideal if the hand held tungsten grinder comes with the inclusion of a full grinding package, such as the inclusion of a screw pack, a tungsten electrode sharpener and a diamond chip. This will make the product extra convenient to use, so that you do not have to immediately purchase these various items separately. But if you find a really great tungsten grinder that has the features that you need and does not come with the extra full grinding package that contains the various elements that we have mentioned here, this does not necessarily mean that you should not buy the tungsten grinder. You just may have to buy the grinding package separately.

Able to perform well for welding in many different industries and situations

As a result of the fact that tungsten electrodes that have many different diameter dimensions are used within a wide span of industries, this means that your tungsten grinder should be able to perform according to the needs of many different industries in order to make it a reliable go-to handheld tungsten grinder for so many diverse situations. During the process of welding, it is noted that there is the formation of an arc between the end of an electrode as well as the object that needs to be welded. This is the reason why you need to have a top-quality tungsten grinder that can perform ultra well.

Consider the tungsten sharpener as well

Then it is realized over the process of time, the point of the electrode sustains wear and can become damaged. That is the reason why there may be the experience of current transmission that is interrupted or inadequate. Due to the fact that the efficiency of your welding as well as the quality of the welding that you perform are directly correlated with the condition of the point at the end of the electrode, it is vital for the point to be sharpened as required. That is the reason why you will also need to ensure that the tungsten sharpening tool provides the sharpest points for the tungsten in order to ensure the best outcome when you use the tungstens with your tungsten grinder.

Sharp grinding head with continuous movement

The cordless tungsten grinder will come with a grinding head. Indeed, the grinding head should move continuously without interruption to allow you to perform all your welding jobs seamlessly. The grinding head should be sharp at all times in order to produce accurate welding every time. Moreover, the grinding head of the tungsten grinder should be powerful and precise. Then you can be sure that the tungsten electrode will undergo the process of grinding in an optimal manner in order to achieve the kind of welding that is precise and done with a standard of excellence.

Inclusion of rails for the grinding head and ability to handle high temperatures

The grinding head should also have tungsten guide rails, which are often made of brass. The rails will allow for true concentricity as well as multiple offsets. This allows for increased usage for the grinding wheel for long periods of time. In addition, the grinding wheel of the tungsten grinder certainly should be able to handle high temperatures. Then you will be able to have the confidence that your portable tungsten grinder will be able to perform exactly as it should every time that you need to use it to do some high-quality welding.

Created with an open design

It is ideal if the tungsten grinder is created with an open design. This is due to the fact that such a design that is open allows for the installation of the grinding wheel to be done more quickly and efficiently without the occurrence of any hassles. Thus, it is truly evident that the open design for your portable tungsten grinder is ultra convenient.

Comfortable to use

When you are considering getting a fantastic new portable tungsten grinder, you must be sure to get one that is comfortable to use. In order to make sure that the tungsten grinder will be comfortable to use during long periods of welding, the grinder should be easy to grip. It should fit well in your head and it should not easily slip out of your hand. The grinder should be a stable device that will be easy to use and control. Also, the grinder should be light in weight to allow for maximized comfort. When you have a tungsten grinder that is comfortable during usage, you will be able to perform all your welding with much accuracy and with a higher standard of excellence.…

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Spending on home improvement has grown more than 50 percent in the U.S. since 2010, when it hit a low during the last recession. And homeowners who are 55 and over are the major force behind that spending, according to a recent report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, based on data from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other sources.

The report, which charted changes in home renovation activity through 2017, attributed part of the increase to a shortage of new construction and a reliance on aging housing stock that requires upkeep and repair.

Other factors include higher housing prices that have increased the available equity for home improvement loans, and a growing population of older homeowners who are financially equipped to pay for renovations.

Aging homeowners, in fact, were responsible for half of the home improvement spending in 2017 — 25 percent by those between 55 and 64 and another 25 percent by those 65 and older.…

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The median home size in the U.S. is 1,650 square feet, but homes come in all shapes, sizes, and layouts. “Small” homes are typically defined at 1,000 square feet or less, but they can feel a lot more cramped with the wrong paint color or layout.

That’s where these 14 amazing home improvement ideas for small houses come in. We consulted experienced real estate agents, scoured blogs, and watched tons of YouTube tutorials to find the top projects that maximize square footage, bring in natural light, and create the illusion of more space in your home. Here’s what we found!

1. Paint with cool neutral hues

“Rich colors make a house feel small,” explains Phoenix, Arizona, agent Andrew Monaghan who has nearly two decades of experience selling properties of all sizes. Rich, warm colors include dark shades like orange, red, and yellow. These colors, while pretty in certain contexts, make elements of any room appear closer than they actually are.

Instead, for the interior walls of your small home, opt for cool colors that give rooms an open and airy look. “It actually makes the house feel bigger,” Monaghan explains. Neutrals are always a good idea for walls, but cool-toned neutrals in a small home makes walls look further away than they are, visually expanding the square footage of a space.

Stick to crisp, cool neutrals on interior walls, such as:

• Sterling (Benjamin Moore)
  Declared one of the go-to neutrals in 2020 by Elle Decor, this subtle gray has the cool undertones that owners of small homes are hunting for. The gray is on-trend, but also timeless; It works in both modern and traditional home design.
• Cloud White (Benjamin Moore)
  This neutral off-white is one of Benjamin Moore’s top-selling paints for a reason. Make your room feel light as a cloud with this neutral shade.
• Falling Snow (Behr)
  This cool white is a great candidate for a bedroom. The blue undertones can help create a more restful space — studies show blue can promote relaxation and sleep.

Painting won’t take more than a weekend’s worth of work but can breathe new life into a small, stale-feeling space.

2. Decorate with large-scale art

It’s tempting to cave to the gallery wall trend, but the more individual items you hang on walls in an already-small space, the smaller it will look. Instead, pack a powerful punch with one piece of large-scale art on a wall in your living room. Having a single dramatic piece of art of the wall will draw the eye towards it, rather than highlight the limited dimensions of the room.

Center your showstopping art on the wall, and take care to hang it 57 inches above the ground- — that’s where the average eye level sits. Museums and galleries also use this as a rule of thumb. Opt for modern or abstract design over an ornate or detailed pattern which can translate into visual confusion.

3. Add wood trim to the ceilings

Adding a simple wood trim to the ceiling will draw the eye up — a classic visual trick to give the room an illusion of height. It also adds some design flair to the room; depending on your style, you can try understated plain molding or ornate three-piece molding.

Adding wood trim costs an average of $100 – $150 per room, and should take between 6 – 8 hours to install, according to the pros from This Old House, who dispense advice to nearly 15 million readers each month. Check out the publication’s comprehensive guide to tackle this project in a weekend.

4. Install recessed and track lighting

A well-lit room will feel more expansive than a poorly lit one. However, placing floor and table lamps all over a room can make it feel cluttered and even smaller. When natural light won’t do the trick, follow these tips to install track and recessed lighting in rooms:

• Replace a traditional ceiling light with tracks if you want to direct lighting on multiple spaces — like shelves, work surfaces, or gathering spaces — in a room.
• Install track light between 20 – 40 inches away from the walls of a room.
• Use track lighting in addition to other lighting in the room, since it’s more specialized.
• Use recessed lighting to bathe the walls of your room in light, making the space appear larger.
• Put recessed lighting under kitchen cabinets to illuminate the countertop and reflect light into the rest of the room.
• Place recessed lighting 12 – 18 inches away from the object you want to illuminate.

5. Feature a skylight

Why install complicated light fixtures when natural light can pour in from above? Adding a skylight to a room brings the outside in, and the sky view will make a room feel more spacious.

However, adding a skylight isn’t as easy as chopping a square into your roof. Reserve this improvement for the pros, and expect to pay between $500 – $3,000 for the project.

Consider installing a skylight in the kitchen, bathroom, or hallway where other natural light is limited. Skylights are best suited for homes with slanted roofs, and you’ll generally want it to face north for all-day soft lighting that won’t overheat a room.

The best time to get a skylight installed is when you’re getting a new roof. “Nobody will install a skylight on a roof that’s not brand new,” explains Pacific-Northwest agent Dawn Rushton in HomeLight’s guide to the added value of skylights.

6. Put in a glass shower stall

If your bathroom is small, chances are it feels even more cramped with an opaque shower door and enclosure. Swap this out for a crystal-clear shower door to open up the room and make it feel bigger.

Make a dramatic impact with a weekend’s worth of work and a frameless glass shower kit, which starts at $450. Just make sure you have a second pair of hands, advises this step-by-step guide from the design junkies at Hunker.

7. Hang curtains high

Hanging your curtains or drapes as high as you can creates the illusion of height and size in a room. Here’s how to play with space and maximize this benefit:

• In a room with molding, hang curtains 4 inches above the window frame. No molding? Hang them 6 inches above the frame.
• Extend the curtain rod beyond the width of your window, between 8-12 inches wider, suggests Apartment Therapy.
• Stick with vertical fabric prints, like stripes, to make the walls look tall.
• Find curtains long enough to almost touch the floor. Leave just an inch of space, or have the fabric pool onto the floor for a dramatic effect.

8. Lighten the floors

Similar to cool-toned walls, a lighter-colored floor can make a room feel bigger by better reflecting natural light.

Here’s how you can lighten your flooring, no matter what you’re walking on:

Install new carpeting.
New carpet in your room will cost on average between $980 – $1,680. White could become a magnet for stains, but a cool-toned blue, green, or neutral can have the same impact.

Sand and refinish hardwood floors with a lighter stain.
Refinishing takes about a day and $200 to DIY, and once you sand down the floors, you can refinish them with a brighter stain to lighten up the room.

Install a lighter-shade laminate.
Laminate flooring comes in a variety of shades, and costs between $3 – $8 per square foot. You can pay, on average, $2,352 for a professional installation, or measure precisely and DIY it on your own.

9. Maximize your outdoor space

Making your outdoor space more functional can add a whole additional room without a costly renovation of addition. “Even just adding two chairs and a table to the patio makes it livable,”  says Monaghan. “That’s another 400 square feet of living space,” which can feel like a lot in a 1,000-square-foot home.

Select affordable brick, concrete, or clay pavers to create a livable patio space. The key to perfecting this DIY project is making sure that the ground is level, then follow Oregon State’s detailed tutorial on how to lay down pavers in your yard.

10. Open up your kitchen storage

Take a page from the farmhouse trend and ditch cabinet doors for an open feel in your kitchen. If you go this route, your cabinets will need to be meticulously organized, but ditching doors on overhead cabinets can really open up your kitchen.

Removing the doors only takes an afternoon and a few basic tools. Best part? It’ll cost you little to nothing beyond the cost of paint and caulk.

11. Add built-in shelves in awkward nooks and crannies

Small homes come with even smaller nooks and crannies that feel dark, dingy, and end up making the room feel …

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Homeownership has a way of awakening the inner Bob Vila in all of us—even the ones who know nothing about home improvement. Whether you’re tackling huge renovations or tiptoeing your way into the world of DIY, these tips will help you set yourself up for success.

Have a plan

Renovations rarely go exactly to plan, but that doesn’t mean you should wing it. Last-minute changes are both stressful and expensive, so get the non-negotiable details hammered out first. At a minimum, this means knowing what results in you want and how much money—and time—it will take to achieve them.

Homeownership has a way of awakening the inner Bob Vila in all of us—even the ones who know nothing about home improvement. Whether you’re tackling huge renovations or tiptoeing your way into the world of DIY, these tips will help you set yourself up for success.

Have a plan

Renovations rarely go exactly to plan, but that doesn’t mean you should wing it. Last-minute changes are both stressful and expensive, so get the non-negotiable details hammered out first. At a minimum, this means knowing what results in you want and how much money—and time—it will take to achieve them.

Find your DIY threshold

Even if you’re an experienced DIY-er with a well-stocked workshop, not all home improvement projects are suitable for amateurs. Before starting a project, gauge your interest level: How much work are you really willing to put in? Is that effort worth the money you’ll save? Be brutally honest.

If you have no idea what you’re getting into, don’t commit until you’ve spent, at minimum, a solid couple of hours watching YouTube tutorials and pricing out materials. Remember: Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Bone up on DIY knowledge

Everyone should know a few basic repair skills, and thanks to the internet, learning them has never been easier. If you can start with a specific question: Is my garbage disposal broken or just clogged? Do I really need to clean my dishwasher filter? How do you refinish a coffee table? You’ll click with some blogs and video personalities more than others; next time, start with them.

If you’re more of a hands-on learner, try volunteering: You’ll learn new skills and help people at the same time. Many hardware stores offer free clinics on basic home repair and improvement skills, too, so be sure to check the offerings in your area.

Save money by scrimping—and splurging—responsibly

Major renovations are expensive, but going full Scrooge on every single line item only creates more work later. Instead, identify where you can and can’t afford to be a little stingy. A good rule of thumb: Shell out for anything catastrophically expensive and/or difficult to replace, like hot water heaters and electrical work. For easily replaceable items—shower heads, light fixtures, drawer pulls—cheap is fine. You should also consider how much use and enjoyment you’ll get from an item. If you’re an avid cook, skimp on floor tiles so you can splurge on the stove of your dreams.

Understand your financing options

Unfortunately, most home improvements do not pay for themselves. If you can’t afford to finance the project in full with cash, you should know the different ways you can finance your home improvement without putting your home at risk.

Personal loans and credit cards can be useful for small-to-medium projects, depending on the interest rate and terms, while home equity loans (HELs) and lines of credit (HELOCs) can help finance major renovations and repairs. Improvements that increase your home’s value can cut down on private mortgage insurance payments, but keep in mind you’ll have to pay to get your home reassessed on top of everything else.

Get your tools right

You can’t really improve your home with just your bare hands—most projects require at least a multi-tool. Before you start a project of any size, be sure your toolbox actually contains the tools you’ll need. Keep in mind that some project genres need special equipment, particularly if they involve plumbing or electrical systems. When in doubt, Google it.

Find the perfect contractor

Finding a handyman or contractor you trust is a lot like finding the right dentist or therapist: Harder than it sounds, and with incredibly high stakes. It’s important to vet potential contractors carefully using these criteria:

• Word of mouth: Ask friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations—especially if they have industry connections
• Check for complaints: Look up your state’s consumer protection office and your local building inspection office
• Learn which licenses and permits are required in your area for contractors, electricians, plumbers, and painters
• Get proof of insurance: Ask contractors to provide you with their insurance details so you can verify it with the provider
• Ask for references, then actually check them out
• Meet with every potential candidate so you get a feel for their style
• Get quotes—and track them with a spreadsheet or other list

For even more specific questions you should ask, check out the Federal Trade Commission’s guide on hiring a contractor.

Always keep your next project in mind

When one project ends, another begins—such is the nature of home improvement. Planning your next move is a lot harder when you can’t remember the good ideas you had while working on something else. Keep a detailed list of your project goals in a spreadsheet, notebook, or even a good old-fashioned Pinterest board so you’ll always know what’s next.

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Compare the best home improvement loans for 2022

Home renovations cost a lot. But the good news is, you don’t have to produce the cash out of pocket.

Home improvement loans let you finance the cost of upgrades.

For example, specialized home improvement loans like the FHA 203(k) mortgage exist specifically to finance home improvement projects.

And there are standard loans — like a cash-out refinance or home equity loan — that give you cash which can be used for home remodeling or anything else.

So, which home improvement loan is right for you?

Check home improvement loan options and rates. Start here (Jan 24th, 2022)

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In this article (Skip to…)

• Cash-out refinance
• FHA 203(k) rehab loan
• Home equity loan
• Home equity line of credit
• Personal loan
• Credit card
• Your best option?
• Impact on credit history
• Non-home expenses
• FAQ

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1. Cash-out refinance

One popular way to get money for a home remodeling project is with a cash-out refinance.

It works like this: You refinance to a new mortgage loan with a bigger balance than what you currently owe. Then you pay off your existing mortgage and keep the remaining cash.

The money you receive from a cash-out refinance comes from your home equity. It can be used to fund home improvements; although there are no rules that say cash-out funds must be used for this loan purpose. You can just as easily invest your cash, or put the lump sum into your bank account.

When a cash-out refinance is a good idea

A cash-out refinance is often best for homeowners who can reset their loans at a lower interest rate than their current mortgage.

You may also be able to adjust the term length to pay off your home sooner.

For example, let’s say you had 20 years left on your 30-year loan. Your cash-out refi could be a 15-year loan, which means you’d be scheduled to pay off your home five years earlier.

So, how do you know if you should use a cash-out refinance? You should compare costs over the life of the loan, including closing costs.

That means looking at the total cost of the new loan versus the cost of keeping your current loan for its life.

Keep in mind that cash-out refinances have higher closing costs, and they apply to the entire loan amount, not just the cash-out.

So you’ll likely need to find an interest rate that’s significantly lower than your current one to make this strategy worth it.

Cash-out refinance for home improvement: Pros and cons

Cash-out refinance pros:

• Cash-out comes from home equity
• You’d continue paying one mortgage payment
• You can lower your interest rate or loan term at the same time
• You can spend the cash on anything

Cash-out refinance cons:

• Closing costs apply to a large loan amount
• New loan will have a larger balance than your current mortgage
• Refinancing starts your loan term length over

Check your eligibility for a cash-out refinance. Start here (Jan 24th, 2022)

2. FHA 203(k) rehab loan

An FHA 203(k) rehab loan also bundles your mortgage and home improvement costs into one loan.

But with an FHA 203(k), you don’t have to apply for two separate loans or pay closing costs twice. Instead, you finance your home purchase and home improvements at the same time, when you buy the house.

FHA 203(k) rehab loans are great when you’re buying a fixer-upper and know you’ll need loan funding for home improvement projects soon.

And these loans are backed by the government, which means you’ll get special benefits — like a low down payment, and the ability to apply with a less-than-perfect credit profile.

FHA 203(k) home improvement loans: Pros and Cons

FHA 203(k) rehab loan pros:

• FHA mortgage rates are currently low
• Your down payment can be as low as 3.5%
• Most lenders only require a 620 credit score (some may go slightly lower)
• You don’t need to be a first-time home buyer

FHA 203(k) rehab loan cons:

• Designed only for older and fixer-upper homes
• FHA loans include upfront and monthly mortgage insurance
• Renovation costs must be at least $5,000
• 203k rules limit use of cash to specific home improvement projects

Check your eligibility for an FHA 203(k) loan. Start here (Jan 24th, 2022)

3. Home equity loan

A home equity loan (HEL) allows you to borrow against the equity you’ve built up in your home. Your equity is calculated by assessing your home’s value and subtracting the outstanding balance due on your existing mortgage loan.

Unlike a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan does not pay off your existing mortgage.

If you already have a mortgage, you’d continue making its monthly payments, while also making payments on your new home equity loan.

When a home equity loan is a good idea

A home equity loan may be the best way to finance your home remodeling projects if:

• You have plenty of home equity built up
• You need funds for a big, one-time project

A home equity loan “is dispersed as a single payment upfront. It’s similar to a second mortgage,” says Bruce Ailion, Realtor and real estate attorney.

With a home equity loan, your home is used as collateral. That means similar to a mortgage, lenders can offer lower rates because the loan is secured against the property.

The low, fixed interest rate makes a home equity loan a good option if you need to borrow a large sum. And you’ll likely pay closing costs on this loan. So the amount you’re borrowing needs to make the added cost worth it.

As an added bonus, “a home equity loan or HELOC may also be tax-deductible,” says Doug Leever with Tropical Financial Credit Union, member FDIC. “Check with your CPA or tax advisor to be sure.”

Home equity loan for home improvements: Pros and cons

Home equity loan pros:

• Home equity loan interest rates are usually fixed
• Loan terms can last from five to 30 years
• You can borrow up to 100% of your equity
• Great for big projects like home remodels

Home equity loan cons:

• Adds a second monthly mortgage payment for homeowners that still owe money on their original loans
• Most banks, lenders, or credit unions charge origination fees and other closing costs
• Disperses one lump sum so you’ll need to budget home improvement projects carefully

4. HELOC (home equity line of credit)

You could also finance home improvements using a home equity line of credit or “HELOC.” A HELOC is similar to a HEL, but it works more like a credit card.

You can borrow from it up to a preapproved limit, pay it back, and borrow from it again.

Another difference between home equity loans and HELOCs is that HELOC interest rates are adjustable — they can rise and fall over the loan term.

But, interest is only due on your outstanding HELOC balance — the amount you’ve actually borrowed — and not on the entire line of credit.

At any time, you could borrow only a portion of your maximum loan amount, which means your payments and interest charges would be lower.

When a HELOC is a good idea

Because of these differences, a HELOC might be a better option than a home equity loan if you have a few less expensive or longer-term remodeling projects to finance on an ongoing basis.

Other things to note about home equity lines of credit include:

• Your credit score, income, and home’s value will determine your maximum loan amount
• HELOCs come with a set loan term, usually between 5 and 20 years
• Your interest rate and loan terms can vary over that time period
• Closing costs are minimal to none

And, by the end of the term, “The loan must be paid in full. Or the HELOC can convert to an amortizing loan,” says Ailion.

“Note that the lender can be permitted to change the terms over the loan’s life. This can reduce the amount you’re able to borrow if, for instance, your credit goes down.”

Still, “HELOCs offer flexibility. You don’t have to pull money out until you need it. And the credit line is available for up to 10 years,” Leever says.

HELOC for home improvement: Pros and cons

HELOC pros:

• Minimal or no closing costs
• Payment varies by amount borrowed
• Revolving balance means you can re-use the funds after repaying

HELOC cons:

• Loan rates are often adjustable, meaning your rate and payment can go up
• Bank or credit union can change repayment terms
• Rates are typically higher than for home equity loans

5. Personal loan

If you don’t have tons of equity to borrow from, an unsecured personal loan is another way to finance home improvements.

Because a personal loan is unsecured, you won’t use your home as collateral. That means these loans can be obtained much faster than HELOCs or home equity lines of credit. In some cases, you may be able to get loan funding on the next business day or even same-day funding.…

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You are renovating because you want your house to look more beautiful and feel more comfortable. Consider your home renovation plan as a business plan or as your special project you are starting from scratch.

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If you hire an architecture he plan for you, but if you want to save money the first step is to take charge of the project and do it to yourself. In this article we are sharing some DIY ideas on, how to renovate your house on budget?

The key to renovating your house on budget yet beautifully is primarily to plan the entire process effectively. The following sections will demonstrate how you can divide your entire renovation plans into sub-plans, according to the space you have and renovate your home effectively. If you are looking to find out top 10 ways to renovate your house beautifully yet economically then read below:

Divide and Conquer

As mentioned earlier effective planning is the key to effective renovation. If you are renovating yourself then you need to focus on both the bigger picture and the smaller parts. You might have heard the phrase “whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, you can apply the same strategy to your home renovation project and devise a renovation plan for each area in your house. If you hire an architect for renovation, he will assess your requirements and then renovate accordingly. In this case since you’re in charge, you will brainstorm your requirements, write your end goal for each space in the house and decide the overall goal, and then move on to:

Budgeting

Since you want to renovate your house economically it is important for you to decide the total expenditure requirements/limit. It is important to remember in budgeting that you cannot overestimate your budget, keep your budget underestimated and then move on to researching for things you need.

Research

You will be surprised at the number of options you have once you start your research. The beautiful lamp that you liked at a high end store can be purchased at a lower price from elsewhere as well. So, when renovating your house on budget please remember that if you research to find the furniture you like, paint you want or the decorations you would like in your house, you are likely to find most of the supplies at an inexpensive price. Take advantage of online shopping, thrift stores and second hand furniture shops and see how far you will go. For step by step instructions on how you can decorate your house beautifully yet economically please read below:

Doors Create the First Impression

The first impression of your house is your door. If you are unable to change the door completely and if your existing door is in a good condition then you should repaint your door. Your doors could also affect the lighting of your room, and you could benefit from this great technique interior designed Amy Lau uses, “When dealing with a dark room, whatever color is used on the walls, I paint the ceiling, trim, and doors the same color but 50 percent lighter. Too much of one shade can overpower a space.” So, when renovating on a budget if you are repainting your door try to use different shades according to the concentration of light in your house to optimize the lighting of your house the way you want to.

 

Paint Affects Lighting

As mentioned earlier painting affects lighting and when renovating your house you might opt for a new paint. In that case if you are already on a budget purchasing different colored pallets might seem counterintuitive. If you are on a tight budget then opt for a black and white palette, it will give your house a modern sophisticated look and you will have the guarantee that you can never go wrong with white or black.

Small Rooms don’t have to Look Small

If you are renovating to make a small house look bigger than an inexpensive and beautiful way of achieving that goal is to use mirrors. It’s an inexpensive technique but it’s used by one of the most famous architects of his time, Sir John Soane, who used mirrors in the breakfast room of his London house.

Kitchens and Storage

If you are decorating/renovating your house then you are probably trying to de-clutter and maximize your storage as well. Utilizing your kitchen to its maximum capacity can help you minimize your storage problems. In order to do this on a low budget you can either DIY kitchen cabinets or storages from recycled material at your house, or take advantage of thrift shops in your area.

No one knows your kitchen space better than you do and your storage needs building DIY storage kitchen cabinets will not only help you save money and reuse old materials at your house but it will also ensure that you’re building exactly what you need. If you already have cabinets which are enough for storage then you don’t need to replace them you can just repaint them to make your kitchen look as good as new.

Light Comes through the Windows

According to Marc Appleton, “half the experience of living indoors is seeing the outdoors” So when remodeling your house install large windows. However, you might not have the budget to change your windows in that case play around with paint and paint your windows a shade lighter than the rest of the room to maximize the light coming through the windows.

Bathroom Renovation

You would be surprised at the number of inexpensive yet quality products you can purchase to renovate your bathroom. If you are looking to install new toilet fixture you can check our Toto Toilet, and if you are not planning to install any new items, you can fix up your existing toilet by changing the paint, changing cabinet paints and by fixing the pressure of shower etc.

Floor Renovation

If you are on a budget then floor renovation might seem expensive, and if you cannot find a flooring installation under your budget then you should invest in renovating everything else according to your floor design.

The key to renovating or redecorating your house beautifully yet inexpensively is to devise a goal for yourself, and paint an entire picture of what you want and then step by step renovate each part of your house like mentioned above.…

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Personal growth may seem like a solo pursuit, but it’s our relationships that bring out the best in us.

Every week, my wife and I have a meeting where we talk about what is going well in our family, but also what we could be doing better. She knows when I am giving less than my best, and she calls me out on it—which isn’t always easy to hear. But I know I’m lucky to be married to someone who always challenges me to work on myself and become a better person.

When we think about personal growth, we often envision a solo quest, like Don Quixote on a journey of self-improvement. We are advised to increase our self-control, get grittier, and develop a sense of purpose. So we hunker down, turn inward, and start the solitary task of reshaping our habits and behaviors.

And yet people who are thriving are usually doing so with the help of others. Peak athletes have coaches. Top executives have mentors. Great parents have parenting blogs and other great parents to bounce ideas off of. Even those contemplative Buddhist monks who seem to be at the pinnacle of self-transcendence are almost always surrounded by other transcendent monk friends.

Research backs this up, suggesting that positive relationships can help us succeed, grow, and become better people. As my wife and I have experienced, romantic partners often encourage and support one another toward shared goals. When parents are highly involved in school, their children tend to do well academically. And positive support from friends, especially during adolescence and early adulthood, can encourage us to be more empathic and helpful toward others.

Across all different spheres of our lives, our relationships can not only help us feel good, but they can also help us be good. If you want to tap into these benefits, here are six simple ways to draw on your relationships to fuel your growth.

1. Spend time with the right people

We generally become more and more like the people whom we spend our time with. The more we see someone model behavior and see that behavior being reinforced in positive ways, the more likely we are to try it out ourselves—whether it’s a friend having success with a new exercise routine or a partner staying calm during disagreements by trying to breathe more.

One of the most fundamental ways to make sure your relationships are helping you grow is to surround yourself with the right people. Some relationships frustrate us, some make us happy, and some challenge us (and some relationships do all three!). While it isn’t always easy to stop and start relationships, of course, we can aim to spend more time with the people who challenge us.

The more we see someone model a behavior and see that behavior being reinforced in positive ways, the more likely we are to try it out ourselves.

This doesn’t mean finding someone who is better than you so that you can try to be like them. Instead, think about how your strengths can compliment someone else’s. Maybe your sibling is detailed and organized while you are more adventurous, and you can rub off on each other as you take a trip together. You can learn from others while they are learning from you.

2. Create goals with others

Who says that goal setting should be a solitary venture?

When we share our goals with others, we immediately have someone to keep us accountable. If I tell my wife that I am trying to stay away from sugar, all she has to do is give me that look when I pick up a doughnut to remind me of my commitment. It is difficult to stay on track with a goal all the time, but it’s easier if we have someone to help us work through an obstacle or pick us up when we fall.

If we take one step further by setting goals with others—like running a half-marathon together or taking classes together to learn a new language—then we won’t feel so alone when the journey gets tough.

The social support that we receive from others is incredibly powerful, particularly during those tough times. When the pressure is high, those who have greater levels of social support tend to experience less stress.

We may also be more motivated when we are working toward a goal with someone else. Think about being pushed by a running mate to jog a little faster than you would otherwise. Or giving up your Saturday for a service project because a friend is doing the same thing. Sometimes we need someone else to inspire us to be our best.

3. Ask for feedback

It’s usually up to us to decide on the areas where we could use some self-improvement. And while this process of self-reflection is important, we can sometimes be bad judges of our own abilities; we usually assume we know much more than we actually do. So why not look to our relationships as a source of feedback about where we can improve?

Feedback is crucial for our development. Research has shown that when we seek feedback and use it as an opportunity for growth, we are more likely to improve over time. How much faster would that process be if we went and asked for feedback instead of waiting for it to come? Imagine your partner’s reaction if you were to ask for feedback on what you could have done differently after a big fight, or how blown away your teenager would be if you asked how you could be a better parent this school year.

Our positive relationships represent a safe space for us to work on ourselves with support from people who care about us. But sometimes we have to make the first move and ask for that support.

4. Use your broader network

Just like financial capital, social capital is a valuable resource that we can invest in for our own good. The more meaningful relationships we have, the more social resources become available. We often find work or beloved hobbies through our relationships, even at three or four degrees of separation—like your brother’s wife’s friend, who heard about that great new job opening.

In addition to exposing us to new ideas, activities, and opportunities, social capital also frees us up to do more of the things we are good at when we find others to help with the things we aren’t as good at. This has benefits at home and at work: For example, employees are more engaged when they get to spend more time using their strengths. And teenagers are happier and less stressed when their parents focus on building their strengths.

If you don’t know how to do something or where to start with a new goal, find someone in your network who does.

5. Be grateful

Gratitude has long been promoted as a way of increasing our happiness, but it also motivates us toward self-improvement. If you want a simple boost from your relationships, you can start by just practicing gratitude for them. The act of being thankful can increase our confidence and encourage us to move forward with our goals, perhaps because it tends to make us feel more connected to people and creates feelings of elevation—a strong positive emotion that comes when we see others do good deeds.

The act of being thankful can increase our confidence and encourage us to move forward with our goals.

Imagine you are training to be a doctor because you want to help people. During a particularly challenging stretch of medical school, you decide to spend some time being thankful for all the people who have helped you get to that point. In doing so, you realize all you have accomplished with the help of others, which boosts your confidence. You feel so inspired by the help others gave you that you get a boost of motivation to complete your program so that you can go out and help others, too.

So think about someone who has helped you a great deal in the past, and reach out to thank them. Not only will that exchange feel good for both of you, but it might also reignite a relationship that can spark your further growth.

6. Invest in others

As you’re tapping into your relationships for social capital, you can contribute to the growth of others, as well—which is another way to show gratitude.

We as humans are motivated by reciprocity. When we receive a favor, we often want to pay it back (or pay it forward). So offer to help a neighbor with a home improvement project just like another neighbor helped you. Or reach out to someone you have helped in the past, and check in to see how they are doing.

While supporting others is meaningful in and of itself, it doesn’t hurt that it tends to be a mutually beneficial experience. We help someone else, and …

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Who is your favorite person with whom to share the good news, quiet moments, funny stories, frustrations, or silly observations from the commute to work? We regularly turn to different people for different reasons. On any given day, we engage in a variety of relationships. From coordinating our day with our spouse and children, collaborating with coworkers, and saying hello to our favorite grocery cashier, loving relationships sustain us, define us, and keep us healthy.

“People involved in loving, philia-based relationships have [fewer] doctor visits, shorter hospital visits, have less pain, and have more positive emotions,” said Kirtly Parker Jones, MD, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Utah Healthcare. She added that loving friendships make us more resilient when hard times come. It’s one thing to feel good about a relationship, but can that relationship actually be good for our health.

Here are seven proven health benefits from sharing a healthy relationship.

1. We live longer

Studies show that those engaged in positive relationships live longer. “People, particularly men, are healthier when they’re married, and they live longer,” said Jones. Experts attribute this phenomenon to factors like reduced stress, and in romantic relationships, a partner often gives up bad habits—like heavy drinking or smoking—in support of the relationship. As a result, healthy habits increase longevity.

2. We heal quicker

“Generally, we see patients with strong social support having better recoveries,” said Benjamin A. Steinberg, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the cardiovascular division of the University of Utah Healthcare. “That can be from friends or family, or even support from an animal partnership, like a pet.” Steinberg attributes improved recovery to lower levels of stress hormones, like cortisol.

3. We have lower blood pressure

Finding a love connection can make your heart skip a beat, but the safe and secure feeling of a positive relationship calms anxiety and keeps your blood pressure in check. “We know that sudden negative emotions can lead to sensations mimicking a heart attack, also known as ‘broken heart syndrome.’” said Steinberg. “It stands to reason the opposite is true, as well.” Additionally, people feeling love are more relaxed and more likely to engage in exercise or other activities beneficial to the heart.

4. We bolster our immune systems

It never fails: the moment we experience heightened stress levels, either from work or personal conflicts, a cold is sure to follow. Yet studies show that people who engage in supportive, positive relationships produce more oxytocin and seem less likely to succumb to the negative effects of stress, anxiety, and depression.

5. We are more physically fit

When it’s hard to keep motivated to exercise and eat right, the support of a good friend can give you a needed boost to stay on track. New romantic relationships are a boon to weight loss and good health since we want to look and act our very best for that special someone. There’s nothing quite like a flurry of compliments to motivate us to maintain our physical appearance.

6. We enjoy good heart health

When your main squeeze makes your heart race, it’s giving your heart a healthy workout. Those loving feelings cause your brain to release dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine, which make your heart beat faster and stronger in response to such emotions.

7. We feel less pain

Do you remember the movie where the courageous hero endures extensive pain for his true love? His inspiration may be out of sight, but a mental image of her is enough for him to withstand pain for her sake. As it turns out, he probably could. A behavioral study demonstrated that “the presentation of romantic partner pictures was sufficient to reduce experimentally-induced pain.” By contrast, showing suffering subjects random photos of attractive people didn’t show any reduction in reaction.

Yes, loving relationships make us happy, but they also keep us healthy. From improving our immune system and blood pressure to helping us heal quicker and enjoy life longer, a happy relationship is life’s greatest medicine. Go ahead, take that free hug. It’s good for you.

 …

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