Take Your Accent Wall to the Next Level

Making a statement in your home comes in many forms, but an accent wall can really take a room up a notch. This can be a great option if you want a change in your home without undergoing a complete (costly) transformation. Consider some of these suggestions for an interior switch-up you won’t regret.

Try out a new color

If you want to really commit to changing things up, you could always paint one wall a bolder, brighter color than the rest (or vice versa). If a color isn’t doing it for you, try a wallpaper instead. While you could go completely different from the rest of the room, bolder doesn’t have to mean inconsistent. Tie in the accent wall with the color palette already in place for a sleek look.

Texturize it

Wall textures are all the rage. Experiment with one yourself by trying it out as an accent wall. There are many different types—it’s all about doing the research and letting your DIY-savvy side shine. Be sure to practice on something less permanent before trying it on the wall, though.

Go natural

Reclaimed wood is making its mark on the interior design world. Everywhere you look, people seem to be taking a more minimalist approach to decor, and what’s right outside our doors is coming inside as well. Get on board with this trend, which doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Experiment with temporary

If you want to make a less permanent change to a room, temporary wallpaper may be the way to go. It can be removed and changed out for a different design or pattern efficiently, making it ideal for those who don’t want to commit to a total change.

Say cheese!

Sometimes, a gallery wall is all you need to take a room to the next level. If you’re wondering what to do with all of the photos you have, consider displaying them on a wall. Incorporate other prints in various sized frames to give it that something extra.

January 25, 2021January 25, 2021

Buying and Selling a Home at the Same Time

Each real estate transaction comes with its own challenges, but buying and selling a home at the same time compounds these challenges. The addition of time constraints and another set of buyers and sellers increases the need for appropriate expectations, patience, and perseverance. Proper planning and preparation are key to a successful conclusion for both transactions.

Planning ahead for your back-to-back sale and purchase

You’ve heard people say, “The destination is not as important as the journey.” However, in the case of buying and selling a home at the same time, in many ways the opposite is true. It is important for you to keep the end goal in mind while at the same time detaching a bit from the process. There will no doubt be bumps in the road; the less you focus on those, the better.

Building a great team will help you put together a successful plan for your sale and purchase. What follows is a list of the professionals you’ll be working with. Communicate with them early and often to keep your process moving forward toward the finish line.

Working with your real estate agent

Your real estate agent can help you develop a clear idea of your needs and expectations for the process. Everything will be time-sensitive, but if you are under severe time pressure, it is important to be very clear about your timeline.

If your purchase will be in another market, allow your agent to refer you to a qualified agent in this new market. Their coordination and cooperation will be vital to the smooth running of the process.

Right-pricing your current home

Of course you will want to sell your current home for the highest possible price as quickly as possible. That means you’ll need to right-price your home rather than holding out for the highest price your market will allow. Unlike other situations, you may not have the luxury of waiting for a buyer who will give you top dollar for your home. Talk to your real estate agent about a price that is fair but also encourages buyer interest and enthusiasm.

Searching for your new home

You’ll want to keep your timeline in mind when searching for your new home. That may mean that you’ll need to put more time into your home search or be a bit more flexible in your requirements. If you are looking to sell and then buy your dream home, you may want to put in place a longer process with a stop-over in a short-term rental property to buy you some extra time.

Working with your lender

You’ll need to spend time talking with your lender about the way your financing will work during the time that you are freeing up money from the sale of your current home to buy your new home. Depending on your financial situation, you may need to close on your current home before initiating financing on your next home or you may be able to qualify for both mortgages simultaneously.

There are loan products available that can help you tap into the equity on your current home in order to purchase your new home, and then pay the temporary or bridge loan off when you close. While this may make the transition possible, it can also put you in a bind if the sale of your current home falls through or is delayed. Talk to your lender about your risk tolerance in this regard, and find out what option will work best for you.

Working with your closing attorney or agent

Depending on the location of the two properties, you may be able to close at the same title company or real estate attorney’s office on both your sale and purchase. Alternatively, you may be able to conduct a mobile closing at a location of your choice—a convenient alternative that allows you to better control your time. You may also choose to close by mail or through a proxy with Power of Attorney.

Working with your movers

Unlike a standard move, you may need to have your household goods packed and stored for a while before they arrive at your new home. You may need to have a portion of your items stored and a portion moved to a short-term rental. Talk to your movers about your options so that they can help you determine the most cost-effective and efficient way of facilitating the particulars of your move.

interior of home with blue rug and grey couch

Short-term Lease Options

You may have visions of a same-day sale and purchase. While this does happen, it requires everything to proceed perfectly with the buyers and sellers on both sides of two different transactions, as well as with both of the lenders involved. Just in case this does not occur, it’s a smart idea to put a backup plan into place. Here are some convenient options:

Rent back your current home

If you know when your new home will be ready for you, you may be able to negotiate a rent-back on your current home. This can be done for one day or for several months, depending on your needs and the preferences of the buyers you are working with.

Rent your next home prior to closing

If the home you are buying is currently unoccupied, you may be able to rent it prior to its purchase. Ask your real estate agent to negotiate an early possession agreement with the sellers prior to the closing date. Note: this should not be an opportunity for you to renegotiate the terms of the sale or ask for additional improvements that you missed before.

Rent another property month-to-month

If you need more time between closings, you may want to rent a property for a few weeks or a few months, depending on your needs. It may be a good idea to choose a property that is already furnished so that you can keep most of your belongings in storage, saving you both time and money.

Stay in a short-term rental

Check out short-term rental services like Airbnb for properties that are available for monthly rental. These properties will come with fully outfitted kitchens and bathrooms, allowing you to keep most of your personal possessions safely stored until your new home is move-in ready.

original post

December 15, 2020December 15, 2020

Create Your Own Table Top Fire Pit

One of the best ways to enjoy your backyard is by gathering around a campfire, but gathering wood and making the fire yourself isn’t always feasible. Now you can have your very own tabletop version—perfect for any size backyard!

Materials:
Work gloves
Nonstick spray
18-inch bowl
Large bucket
Concrete mix
Masonry trowel
5-inch bowl
Heavy weights
Sandpaper
Lava rock granules
Gel fuel canisters
Grill grate/metal screen
Industrial scissors
Large lava rocks
Lighter
Lava rocks

Directions:

Be sure to put on work gloves before starting this project. To begin, spray the inside of the 18-inch bowl with nonstick spray.

Mix the concrete in a large bucket, and using the trowel, pour the concrete into the 18-inch bowl until it is half-full.

Place the 14.5-inch bowl into the center of the concrete, and weigh it down with the weights. Be sure that both bowls are level, and that there is about 2-3 inches of concrete in between the bowls.

Tap the outside of the bowl gently to remove any air bubbles, and give the concrete at least 48 hours to harden.

Once set, remove the inner bowl first, and then gently remove the concrete from the outer bowl. Use sandpaper to clean up the edges.

Place a layer of the lava rock into the bottom of the concrete bowl, and add the fuel canisters to the center.

Cut the metal screen to fit over the concrete, and place over the top of the canisters. Cover the grate with a thin layer of the large lava rocks.

When ready to use, light the fuel canisters through the grate with a longneck lighter.

NOTE: To extinguish the fire pit, follow the guidelines for the gel fuel canisters.

Original Post

December 1, 2020December 15, 2020

Less is More this Holiday Season

Flashy decor and bright colors and patterns aren’t for everyone. These tips can help you keep your holiday decorating minimal and classic.

Choose monochromes
While the blues, reds, and greens lining the store aisles are enticing in the moment, choosing to deck your house out in too much color can be headache-inducing. Instead, opt for a neutral theme, using monochromatic colors like black and white with a colorful accent. This can be achieved with easily changeable decor like throw pillows.

gift wrapped with burlap and pine leaves

Wrap presents using brown paper
Go the old-fashioned (and eco-friendly!) route and use brown paper and twine to wrap presents. This look is simple, yet classy, and will make your tree stand out when all the presents are under it. This minimalist choice is easy to personalize, too, and the receiver will be instantly charmed by the extra effort.

Skip the tinsel
When it comes to decorating the tree, decorations don’t have to be colorful and metallic. For a more minimalistic aesthetic, consider adding a faux-fur tree skirt to the bottom of your tree, utilizing strands of white lights, and adding nature-inspired ornaments, like artificial pine cones and white and gold ornament balls.

Keep the focus on one or two items
For the ultimate minimalist design, choose only a couple of holiday pieces for your decor and let those be the focal point of your home. Switching out your everyday couch pillows for holiday-themed ones or placing winter plants in the corners of your home might just be the best way to keep it simple.