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Sunday, January 6th, 2019
The Wesley Allen Bedroom Laurel Complete Bed will look great in a vintage home. But before you bring in this lovely piece of furniture or any furnishing for that matter, make sure that your home is free from toxic and hazardous substances.
‘Recently purchased an old home? No surprise there because a lot of people are drawn to such because of these structures’ charm. While these houses are such a beauty to behold, there are also dangers there that you might not have initially considered.
That Long-banned Lead Paint
If you bought a home that was built before 1978, then it is probable that it’s been painted with lead paint. This was the year when the federal government finally banned the use of lead-based paints because they were found to be life threatening.
Paint, even when lead-based, when in good condition less likely to be dangerous but come the moment when it is sanded, scraped or even chipped, then it becomes hazardous.
Lead dust is dangerous because it can be inhaled and it can even mix with the soil outdoors where you typically garden or where your kids play. Have your home tested for lead-based paint if you’re not sure that you’re putting your family at risk. A simple inspection will be able to show whether there’s lead-based paint or none.
Lead Plumbing
Lead isn’t just found in paint. This can also be found in pipes. This is highly dangerous because the substance could easily mix with your family’s drinking water. Your health could be endangered due to poisoning.
The surefire way to know if you have lead pipes is to have them tested. You can have experts take a look or you can use a kit from any home improvement shop. This inspection becomes doubly crucial if you see that your plumbing is non-plastic and if it was installed prior to 1986.
Ways that you can reduce the health risks once it’s been established that your pipes are made of lead include –
Asbestos
Asbestos is a kind of mineral fiber that’s been used a lot during the 20th century. More homes were filled with this fiber in World War II. It was used extensively in construction and roofing as it was an effective insulator and fireproof material.
Asbestos was also used in wall compounds, caulking, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, ducts, pipes, boilers, and furnaces. Even the ceilings were sprayed on with asbestos treatments which looked as a decorative overlay.
Asbestos was also an effective sound blocker.
So if asbestos had these many uses, why was it banned in the late ‘70s? The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission banned any further use of this material due to environmental concerns. Disturbing this material in any manner will release the fibers into the air. When breathed in, the fibers could remain trapped in your lungs leading to inflammation and eventual scarring.
Diseases such as mesothelioma and other forms of cancer have also been linked to asbestos exposure.
An abatement professional will be able to help you confirm if there is still asbestos in your home. Never take samples of materials on your own as this can disrupt the fibers. Your local state agency will also be able to help you with the inspection and removal of this material.
Old, Outdated Wiring
The CPSC stated that approximately 46,000 fires, each year, start because of faulty electrical systems. The sad news is that most of these could have been prevented had there been a thorough routine inspection.
Take note that homes built 40-100 years ago had not been inspected since they were constructed. If you experience dimming or flickering lights, power outages, sizzling sounds, hot outlets, burnt smells, shrinking TV picture, and even smoke, then what you’re seeing or hearing are warning signs already.
If you can’t even remember having your electrical system inspected, then it’s time to hire a certified electrician ASAP.
Tags: home inspection, home maintenance, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, older homes
Posted in Home Buying, Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on What Dangers Hide in Older Homes?
Sunday, December 30th, 2018
Uttermost Living Room Connor Elm Accent Stool 24814: Decorate your tiny home with dual or multipurpose furniture such as this accent table and storage unit in one.
There are many reasons that many homeowners are now choosing to downsize their homes. According to popular finance guru and author Dave Ramsey, moving up the financial scale does not necessarily mean that you have to buy a larger home. In fact, more and more American families are choosing to downsize their home and adjusting their lifestyles.
Just take a careful look at the numbers – the average home comes at 2,600 square feet. This is according to the US Census Bureau. This has come a long way from the 1950s when the average size of homes is at 1,000 square feet or even less. And to think that families were way bigger then.
Considering the long-term effects, transitioning to a smaller home does have its benefits. Bigger is not always better especially when smaller homes become the more logical option.
Here are the top reasons when downsizing is the best option –
When You Want Increased Income
Just imagine monthly when you pay less on your mortgage payments. What a wonderful world it’s going to be since you’ll have increased money that’s leftover. This amount can now be allocated to your other needs. You even get to keep some savings even after buying a smaller home from the proceeds of the bigger home that you sold.
When You Want More Time
A smaller house comes with smaller rooms. This means that there are fewer rooms to clean. With fewer household tasks, you will have more time to spend with your family.
When You Want Lower Utility Costs
A smaller house has less heating or cooling necessities. Since a tiny house has literally no wasted space and zero square footage that’s unused, every nook and cranny is also utilized. Less square footage means less energy is used and where there is energy reduction, you are sure to save on money.
When You Don’t Want to Get Stressed
A smaller home means you have less responsibility. There is also a smaller workload so you become more flexible on your schedule and also your stress levels are greatly reduced if not totally eradicated.
It has been proven that homeowners who switched to smaller homes tend to become happier since they are no longer overcome by the demands of a bigger home.
You’re Retiring Soon
Retirement is one of the major changes that a person goes through in his or her life. For a lot of retirees, this means leaving their current homes – and for a good reason.
Moving to a downsized house is now a popular move among retirees. After all, what are they going to need their big houses for when all the kids have already gone? Taking care of a bigger house is also a huge hassle because of the maintenance and repair needs.
There are only two ways to go when you’re about to retire – stay put or pack up. And just like the other reasons already mentioned, being a retiree and downsizing means you get to eliminate a huge chunk of the usual mortgage.
Why owe money when you can significantly lower the housing cost, right?
Becoming a retiree also means you can sell your current home and then pick a place where the cost of living is way cheaper than what you’re already spending. You can actually move to a state that does not have Social Security tax (e.g. Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, and many more).
But are there also disadvantages to downsizing?
The Downside
Moving to a smaller home may save you money in the long run but the actual move still incurs a lot of expenses. Be sure that you are prepared for this. And when you’re not truly ready, you could end up having regrets that you’ve moved to a much smaller home.
So when you’re downsizing, make sure that you’re mentally, emotionally, physically and financially prepared.
Tags: downsizing, downsizing your home, living in a tiny home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tiny house, tiny house living
Posted in Home Buying, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | Comments Off on Should You Downsize Your Home?
Tuesday, March 27th, 2018
The bay windows in this bedroom highlight the beauty of the furnishings in it. Featured here is the Upholstered Shelter King Bed from the Harbor Springs Collection of Fine Furniture Design.
One of the chief mistakes that most homeowners make when they are about to sell their homes is their hesitation to upgrade. They think that they’re not gonna live there any longer so why make added efforts? But it is said that an upgrade or home improvement right before selling the home can up the value of the property by roughly 57% which is a huge deal.
Your inability to decide on a proper home upgrade could lead to losses. But if you’re thinking about costs that could break the bank, think again. Even a color palette alteration could already go a long, long way. Just think of it this way, your inaction could lead to maintenance and staging costs plus it could leave your house on the market longer.
The Laundry Room
This may be the last room that you have in mind when it comes to remodeling projects but 92% of home buyers need a room where they can stack the clean laundry. The laundry room topped the most-wanted home features on the NAHB or National Association of Home Builders’ list.
The basement is often the least costly space to put it plus, more often than not, the utility lines are already set up there.
Just as important as the indoor appeal is, the outdoors must be aesthetically pleasing to look at. Featured here is the Hooker Furniture Living Room Melange Flowered Drum Table which you can also use as a patio decorative piece.
The Kitchen
How many house flipping shows have you seen on TV? Don’t the houses that have the loveliest kitchens sell like hotcakes? If you want the best for the heart of your home, then install some quartz countertops. These are now believed to even be more popular than marble.
Hardwood Flooring
While a great-looking wall-to-wall carpet is awesome, nothing can make a home look especially elegant than hardwood floors. Compared to other flooring materials, hardwood can last for decades and is much easier to clean than carpets.
Wood flooring is also more hygienic than carpeting. They are cleaner and much easier to maintain. Just imagine the unpleasant odors that can come from carpets and you’d realize why wood beats it hands down.
Sellers who are on a budget could consider engineered wood. These are hardwood veneers that are wrapped in layers of fiberboard, plywood, and hardwood.
The Tub
This is a luxurious added feature inside a spa-like bathroom. As much as you can, add a soaking tub since these are deeper, more modern-looking, and they tend to be more relaxing.
Bay Windows
One look at this type of window and you’d want to get inside the house. These windows don’t just look great they’re also going to help in saving energy because they let in natural light. About 90% of buyers look for energy efficient features.
Energy efficient windows such as a bay window can cut heating and cooling costs by about 12%. Don’t worry about aesthetics because even Energy-Star rated windows come with invisible glass coating and improved frames. Value-wise, these windows enhance the curb appeal so that’s another win for a homeowner who wants to sell his property soon.
Outdoor Lighting
Illumination is an important aspect of marketing a home. Properly-lit manicured lawn with ample exterior lighting are just the right things that will catch buyers’ attention. Add walkway lights, spotlight, and pendant lights to add to the security and aesthetics of your home.
A Patio
Don’t ever make the mistake of neglecting the backyard when you’re selling your property because about 87% of home buyers are looking for a lovely patio. These days, this outdoor part of a home has become one of the most sought-after features of homes.
People tend to envision themselves resting in their backyard and enjoying some barbecue, hotdogs, and burgers with their family.
Garage Storage
About 86% of home buyers look for a storage space within the garage since this is easier to get to than the backyard shed or the attic. Be sure to organize the cabinets and racks in a way that the items they hold are easily accessible.
Tags: home staging, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, prepping a home for the market, staging a home
Posted in Home Buying, Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on What Home Buyers Want (and Need) the Most
Thursday, October 27th, 2016
The FFDM Villa Cascina is a piece of furniture that means you are firm, steady and that you intend to stay.
Home buying offers many rewards. The opposite of such rewards is a myriad of buyer regrets, though. No one would be able to describe these regrets more than those who have already gone through the painful process of purchasing their own home. So what should you do to prevent such disasters from happening?
Don’t Delay Home Search
One of the biggest mistakes that a future homeowner could make is to not search for a house in the market soon. Don’t wait for that moment when you’re already tired of your current home before you begin shopping for a new one.
It is difficult to speed shop for a home so go ahead and shop for your dream home now. Delay it and you could end up making an offer to house that you don’t even like just because you’re desperate to leave your current place.
Do Live Near Schools
Even if you still don’t have any kids, make sure that you consider buying a property that’s within the vicinity of some schools. Buy for the long haul, not just for the next five years or so.
Living near schools is one of the best decisions that your family could ever make. Here are the advantages –
Children become independent. Kids can walk to and from the school. There is no need to wait for the bus.
Convenience. Living right next to schools means there is very minimal time wasted. The kids simply walk to their schools and the parents don’t need to worry about setting up a transport schedule for them.
Less costly. Driving a car to and from the school can add up, expense wise. School bus fees are also not that cheap.
Safety. The kids will have less chances of walking through dangerous intersections. Parents can sometimes literally see their kids’ classrooms from their living room.
Say No
Don’t say yes to every single demand that the seller makes. Don’t be afraid to ruin your chances of owning your dream home. Know that these buyers need you more than you need them – always think that.
Buy According to Your Needs
While it is also important to plan for the future (e.g. having a family of six or seven soon), it would be impractical to set up a 5,000 sq. ft. home if you have just one baby at the moment. It is better to remodel your home and make the necessary additions later on.
Buying too small and not having the budget to create additions later is also not wise. Some families think that the home they bought would be sufficient for them for a long time only to realize later that their family has grown and their needs have grown, too (e.g. the children have grown and are no longer amenable to sharing rooms).
Assess your family’s priorities and needs so that you could buy a home that would coincide with these.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Sandcastle Rectangle Cocktail Table
Check the Tiniest Details
Moving can bring with it a lot of exciting feelings. Since this is so, most home buyers end up purchasing without actually checking every nook and cranny. Inspect the home that you’re about to buy – that’s your right.
You don’t want to end up with a house with cheap cabinetry and peeling laminate flooring. Buying a house could mean repairs but it is best to keep them to a bare minimum.
See if your prospect home would be family-friendly, too.
Bringing Kids During Open House
Kids and open houses – these shouldn’t be together in one sentence. A kid could throw a fit and you could end up pacifying the kid and not being able to concentrate on checking every part of the home that you intend to buy.
Tags: home search, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, shopping for a home, tips
Posted in Home Buying, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 15th, 2016
Picture this wooden beauty welcoming you on the entryway of your new home! Featured furniture is from FFDM’s Harbor Springs Collection.
So, you’re a would-be home buyer; what sort of advice are you now looking at regarding this big project of yours? There are many tried and tested pieces of advice for future homeowners but the housing market presents an ever-changing tide so you need to know the latest trends and how to use them to your advantage.
It’s time to keep an open mind and see what options lay before you. Move quickly but with a cautious mind all the time. Find a home that will suit your needs but not keeping your taste take a backseat.
Begin Searching Early
The best guideline out there is to begin your shopping for a home early enough. If you are serious about purchasing, know that there are many other hunters out there. Just think about the volume of house hunters and you would pretty much have an idea on how the search would go.
Doing the task early would help you get better mortgage rate and a better price. See if you can schedule your shopping during the off-peak months.
Shop and Compare
Do shop around. Work hard on the mortgage as you would when shopping for a home. Do not presume that the fixed mortgage at 30 years is the only best option for you. Mortgage rates are forecasted to reach 4.65% by the end of 2016. A lot of home buyers are still not aware of their choices in mortgage products that will eventually affect their payments.
Think about this – lower interest rates have a significant effect when you want to qualify for a loan in buying a home. This will also save you thousands of dollars as you pay the loan in the years to come. So, yeah, do shop around – we can’t reiterate that enough.
The Century Furniture Bedroom Mendoza Bed With Upholstered Headboard – Queen Size 5/0 709-155 spells luxury and comfort.
Choose a New Home
One thing that can ease the pressing housing issue is new construction but a lot of people do not even consider this option. Many people do not know about new homes because they initially feel that they are not the right options for them. To them, it can be too expensive but they can never be more wrong.
The number of new houses on the market has been forecasted to increase at 16-percent. You can work this lack of awareness to your advantage since you will have less competition.
New homes are often more expensive but they all come with warranties on the appliances and structures. This means you won’t have to worry about repairs or maintenance for a number of years.
The Competition
So who are out to shop for homes this year? First, there are the millenials. These have increased incomes and growing families, they are the ones that top the list when it comes to wanting a new home.
Your next competitors are the Gen X’ers. They account for about 20% of homes bought during 2015. These are those who are 35 to 44 years old who have rebounded from the financial crisis in the past years.
Couples who are looking to retire or relocate also still comprise a huge chunk of the home buying population. There are couples that are out to sell their old homes, especially during this month or the next (known as the home-buying months). These are also the ones who want to customize their home and the interior design of their new place.
Don’t Forget the Furniture
What would a new home be without new sets of lovely, durable furniture? Buy the basic pieces for every room – a sofa set, center table, vases, artwork, carpet for the living room; the bed, nightstand, and a closet for the bedroom; a dining set for the dining room; etc.
There is nothing that could be more fulfilling than furniture purchase once you cap your home buying project.
Tags: buying a home, buying a new home, home buying, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, shopping for a home
Posted in Home Buying, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
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