Functional Spaces at Home

10 Ways to Make a Room More Functional

  1. Maximize vertical space
    Take advantage of wall height by adding tall bookcases, cabinets or shelves, or by hanging hooks for jackets in the hallway, separate office or study, add a desk in a corner of a bedroom or living room, preferably under a window to take advantage of the natural light and to keep your back turned from distractions like the TV and bed.
  2. Keep traffic paths clear
    Avoid bumping into furniture by creating an efficient layout. Make direct paths to commonly used zones and leave enough space to manoeuvre around each piece of furniture. 
  3. Control clutter
    Get rid of items you no longer need or use, deal with paperwork as it comes in, file important items in labelled folders or boxes, and return everything to its original place when you’re done with it.
  4. Add storage
    Store like items – such as cleaning products or bathroom supplies – in labelled boxes or plastic bins. For particularly unkempt areas, purchase storage options like an over-the-door rack to get shoes off the floor, or a closet-size second shelving unit to stash seasonal clothing.
  5. Create a nook
    If you don’t have the luxury of a separate office or study, add a desk in a corner of a bedroom or living room, preferably under a window to take advantage of the natural light and to keep your back turned from distractions like the TV and bed. 
  6. Use a room for what it’s intended
    Keep the children’s toys in their bedrooms or playroom and out of the living room, do paperwork or homework in a home office or den – not the dining room – and move all of your craft or woodworking projects out of the kitchen and down into the basement or crafts room.
  7. Store items in the rooms in which they’re used
    Keep table linens in the dining room, books and magazines in the den, dish towels in the kitchen, and detergent in the laundry room.
  8. Purchase double-duty furnishings
    Select pieces that are versatile, such as a coffee table with a shelf for magazines and books, a lighting for reading, eating or writing, and for setting the mood.
  9. Have multiple table surfaces
    Rather than having to get out of your chair every time you want a sip of coffee, make sure that there are enough surfaces within arm’s reach of living room seating to hold items such as drinks, books, table lamps and reading glasses.
  10. Purchase efficient lighting
    Ensure that your space has table lamps, floor lamps and other lighting for reading, eating or writing, and for setting the mood.

Thanks for reading!

Questions To Ask When Buying Homeowners Insurance

For many homebuyers, property insurance is a detail, a box to be checked off on the way to closing. But details are important and missteps can be expensive. Purchasing insurance may not be as fun as choosing new furniture and paint colors, but it’s a critical part of the homebuying process. Your homeowners insurance policy is a financial safety net in case of a disaster, so you’ll want to ask a few important questions to make sure you have the coverage you need at a price you can afford.

What’s the dwelling coverage per square foot?

Imagine that a fire burned your house to the ground and your policy didn’t pay out enough to rebuild it. That could happen if your dwelling coverage – the part of your policy that covers the structure of your home – is too low.

To prevent this, don’t simply accept the initial dwelling coverage amount an insurance company recommends. “Insurance companies use replacement cost calculators, but they’re not 100% accurate by any means,” says Ryan Andrew, president of The Andrew Agency, an independent insurance agency serving Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

For a more accurate estimate, ask your insurer to send someone to your house for a replacement evaluation, suggests Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers. You can also ask a local builder who specializes in new construction to estimate your home’s rebuilding cost per square foot.

Once you’ve chosen an appropriate dwelling limit, consider adding extended replacement cost coverage to your policy. With this coverage, your insurer will pay 10% to 50% more than your dwelling coverage amount to help you rebuild. This could save you thousands of dollars if building prices spike for unforeseen reasons such as a lumber shortage or high demand after a disaster.

A typically pricier option, guaranteed replacement cost coverage, will pay to rebuild your home regardless of expense.

Do I have multiple deductibles?

Homeowners may not realize that on some policies, higher deductibles may apply for claims due to wind, hail, named storms or other disasters.

For example, say a hurricane causes wind damage to your roof. Your insurance policy might have a wind deductible worth 5% of your dwelling coverage rather than the $1,000 deductible that applies to most other claims, Andrew says. So if your house were covered for $250,000, you’d have to pay for the first $12,500 of damage before your insurer paid anything.

Getting quotes from multiple insurers may help you reduce or eliminate these high deductibles.

What isn’t covered?

You might be unpleasantly surprised by your policy’s exclusions. “Flood insurance, which is excluded on almost all homeowners policies, is definitely a big one,” Andrew says, adding that this is especially important for homeowners with finished basements.

Even houses that aren’t near a body of water could experience flooding during heavy downpours, Andrew says, and a standard homeowners policy is unlikely to cover any damage.

You can buy flood insurance through companies that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The program’s average flood claim payout was $52,000 in 2019.

Andrew also suggests adding water backup coverage to your policy. This pays for damage due to water backing up into your house from sewer lines, sump pumps or other water lines.

Another common coverage gap involves keeping up with current building laws. “If you have to make improvements when you’re repairing or replacing (your home) because the codes have changed since your house was built, a typical policy will exclude that,” Bach says. Though this can be particularly expensive for older homes, “even a house that was built five years ago is out of code,” Andrew says.

Both Bach and Andrew recommend adding ordinance or law coverage to your policy to handle these expenses.

How can I save?

While having the right coverage is generally more important than paying the bare minimum, there are discounts to make your policy more affordable. Andrew suggests buying your car, homeowners and other insurance through the same company to take advantage of bundling discounts, which can save you 20% or more.

“The best way to bring down the price without sacrificing coverage is to raise your deductible,” Bach says. Being willing to pay for smaller repairs yourself rather than filing claims will help keep your premiums low.

If you’re confused about coverage and discounts, reach out to an insurance agent to talk through your options. “Take a little extra time to understand what it is that you’re purchasing,” Andrew says. “For most people a house is the most expensive asset they have.”

Advantage to Listing Your Home After the New Year!

 

Good Day All, 

I hope everyone is having a great week!! Can you believe that it is almost December 1st? The countdown to Christmas is here!! This may surprise you that a Realtor is telling you this, but now is NOT the time to list your home! I know it’s a shocker, but below are a few reasons why you want to wait and list your home for sale after the New Year. 

  • Holiday Décor – I know we all like to have our homes decorated for the holidays! Honestly though the last thing you want in your homes pictures and in your home while buyers are looking is Christmas tree’s, Santa Clause all over the place, the home plastered in green and red, etc. Wait until after Christmas, put the décor away, clean and be ready to impress buyers!! 
  • Timing – Most people list their home for sale in the Spring time. Listing your home right after the new year makes your home stand out and not get lost in the flood of homes listed in the spring. Plus, hopefully you will be under contract and moving in the spring instead of just getting the process started. 
  • Ring, Ring Ring – Realtor’s phones, emails and all forms of communication is typically very slow in December. Which means buyers are typically waiting until after the holidays to purchase a home. Listing in January means they will be waiting to see your home verses having it sit on the market in December with very to no activity. 
  • Tax Time – Often at the end of the year people start to look at their taxes, financial situation, etc. and plan for the next year! Having your home fresh on the market in January is ideal for people getting a head start on 2019! 

I hope you find this information helpful!! Just remember list with me in January, but call me today so we can get a plan together!

Call/Text (352) 577-9171 or Email Info@Search352Homes.com 

 

***List Your Home TODAY***

 

Good Afternoon Everyone, 

I hope everyone is having a great week! Today’s topic of discussion – SELLING Your Home NOW! 

Why do you think right now is a good time to sell your home? Maybe you’ve heard the real estate market is doing well? Or maybe you’ve had a friend or family member sell their home and have positive equity? Both of those are good reasons to sell, but here are 5 top reasons to SELL your home TODAY! 

1.) Low Mortgage Interest Rates! – Right now you can borrow money to purchase a home with record low interest rates! You may think well isn’t this a reason for a buyer to purchase a home? You’re correct, but this is a HUGE benefit for sellers. Right now Realtors like myself have buyers just waiting for homes to hit the market. Inventory is extremely low and the real estate market needs your home to be listed for sale TODAY! 

2.) Home Prices are on the Rise! – Home prices are continuing to rise throughout the United States. In 2017 we finished out the year with a 5.5% year to year increase with home values on the rise! 

3.) Millennials! – Millennials are ready to purchase a home! With an economy on the rise, millennials are in the position to purchase one of the best investments! They’re graduating college, starting careers and getting married! Perfect time in their life to invest in a home. 

4.) Money in Savings! – Not all, but some people are finally able to have money in savings!. They have made it through the hard times and feel stable with their finances. That being said, a lot of people are starting to look into purchasing a home. 

5.) Low Inventory- I discussed a little bit of this topic with # 1 and Low Interest Rates. Inventory is EXTREMELY low. I have a portfolio of buyers who are just waiting for the average family home to hit the market! They’re preapproved and ready to go! All we need is a home like yours to be listed for sale! 

If you have any questions about listing your home or purchasing a home, I would be more than happy to sit down with you and discuss your real estate needs. As always I’m here to help every step of the way! 

Duke Rountree – Info@HomesForSaleOcalaMarion.com – (352) 572-1739