by OmniView Realty | Apr 16, 2022 | Advice for Homeowners, First Time Home Buyers, Home Decorating, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance
As the weather starts to get warmer, most of us are trying to find ways to spend more time outside. If you are looking to get more use out of outdoor space at your home, these tips are for you! Stephen Schroeter, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Napoleon Products, says, “research shows the most loved areas of the home combine relaxation, socialization, and functionality. Outdoor spaces provide a great opportunity to accommodate all three, yet they are still vastly underutilized by most homeowners.” Here are his best tips for doing this:
- Outdoor Kitchens – Outdoor kitchens meet basic needs and create a fun atmosphere. They are starting to grow in popularity. No one wants to be inside cooking for those weekend cookouts or warm evenings. Items to consider adding include a professional grill, refrigerators or coolers, pizza ovens, and sinks for a simple clean-up.
- Establish a Gathering Place – Socialization is key for outdoor spaces. A centralized location with many seating options creates a welcoming atmosphere. A built-in fireplace or a nice fire pit could be your focal point and be used throughout the seasons.
- Divide Up The Zones – To make an outdoor space feel more intimate, use barriers like large plants, privacy panels, or pergolas. Divided spaces will give a large area its own purpose.
- Design for All the Senses – Don’t just focus on the aesthetic appeal to the eyes in your outdoor space. The best spaces are those that hit all the senses. You want a comfortable, appealing space but also want to consider adding speakers for music, a water fountain to mask street noise, or fragrant plants.
- Add Accents – Small details can make all the difference. Add bold color to your outdoor space – it is the perfect location to mess around with prints a little out of your comfort zone! You can define your style and personality through fun themes in your outdoor space.
by OmniView Realty | Apr 16, 2022 | Advice For Buyers, Buyers, First Time Home Buyers, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance
So you have finally closed on the home of your dreams. You went through all the steps and paperwork, so you can now relax. As long as you keep up with your mortgage payments, your financials are all set – to an extent.
Now that you own a home, you need to maintain it. Maintenance can cost a good chunk of money. The worst maintenance costs are those that you did not see coming before you purchased the home. Here are six hidden expenses that are often overlooked.
- New Locks
- As soon as you get the keys to your home, it would be best if you get new locks. Think about how many people were given keys to get into your new home at one point.
- Cost: $100 to $350
- Tree Removal
- If you buy a home with a good amount of greenery, remember to budget for that maintenance. Tree removal and trimming can cost a good amount of money.
- Cost: $75 to $4,000
- HVAC
- The best way to prevent expensive repairs on your HVAC is to maintain it twice a year. The best bang for your buck is getting a service contract. These typically give you two checkups a year from a technician to prevent serious issues.
- `$70 to $100 twice a year
- Duct Cleaning
- If the home you purchased was previously lived in, you should check out the duct situation. This can be a huge issue for people with allergies. You should get a one-time duct cleaning when you move in. The cost of cleaning varies on the size of your home.
- Cost $450 to $1,000
- Fire Extinguishers
- In many states, home sellers must keep a fire extinguisher within 5 feet of the kitchen when the house hits the market. If your new home doesn’t have any, you should buy at least one.
- Cost $20 to $75 per extinguisher
- Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors
- It is recommended to install a smoke detector in every bedroom in your home. New homes will typically come equipped with these. Previously owned homes may have outdated systems that need to be replaced.
- Cost $12-$18 per unit
by OmniView Realty | Mar 11, 2022 | Home Decorating, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance
It is general consensus that interior home design trends come and go with the seasons. Designers can offer some of the best advice on how to style your home, but sometimes they are quick to switch perspectives. The best way to design your home is to make sure that your preferences and passions are always part of the plan! 2019 is all about making your living room about you and displaying your style. Here are some ideas on how to have a nontraditional living space.
- TV’s disguised as artwork
- For a cozy night in or to watch the big game, having a big-screen TV is great. When the television is not in use, it is not the best decor piece. There have been many attempts to find a good solution for hiding your TV in its downtime. The newest idea to the market is having the TV screen turn into artwork when it is switched off. Samsung’s Frame Television displays any artwork of your choice at the click of a remote. Next time you have a gathering your guests will ask where you got your new art, but in reality, it is just a TV!
- Pedestal Displays
- A hothouse trend this year is using pedestal displays. Homeowners are becoming more interested in having a space that is one of a kind and their own. Placing vintage pieces, plants, or unique artwork on pedestal structures will add an interesting element. Place anything you like in groups of three to get a cool effect.
- Don’t Hold Back On Patterns
- Patterns are becoming more and more prominent over basic solid color walls. It used to be the norm to choose one focal pattern, but we are taking things one step further. Choose multiple patterns. It can be intimidating to think about mixing florals with animal prints and stripes with geometric blocks, but just stay within the same color scheme and you will be good.
- Be a Maximalist
- Flashy fabrics like velvet and mohair are taking living rooms by storm. Maximalism is everywhere this year in the home decor sector. These types of materials create a warm and inviting living space. Typically when you think velvet furniture, you think expensive. Luckily there are now many options that are cheaper and even easy to clean. The best items to add side chairs, benches, and throw pillows.
