Electrical Issues

Electrical issues aren’t always easily visible so sometimes people move them to the bottom of their priority list. However, just because they are sometimes unseen, doesn’t mean that they don’t pose a threat. Electrical problems need to be a priority because they can be dangerous for you and your family. If electrical issues aren’t addressed, they can lead to serious problems or even a fire in your home. Make sure that you take care of electrical issues early by calling in an electrician so they can solve your problem.

Roof Fixes

Any damage to your roof can lead to further problems and a huge expense if it isn’t taken care of. That’s why you always want to take care of any roof leak or problem as soon as you can. Some roofing issues are hard to spot because they’re hidden. So you may want to have your roof carefully inspected each year and after any major storms. That way you can catch any problems and take care of them before you have a larger issue on your hands.

Plumbing Problems

If there are any issues with your plumbing, you also want to make sure that they are taken care of quickly. A leaky pipe can quickly turn into major water damage if you aren’t careful. Think about the damage your home might experience if a plumbing issue persists and let that inspire you to call a plumber. That way you can continue using your home without worrying that you are going to have serious water damage. Even a small leak should be addressed quickly so it doesn’t have time to grow.

You want your home to be in good repair so you can be safe and happy in the space you have created for yourself. When the basics are taken care of, you can start thinking about projects that are more fun and that will improve the appeal of your home. Pay attention to your house so you can catch problems early and make them a thing of the past.

Check out this article on what to watch out for while cleaning your attic!

There are few things as special as building your own home. When you build, you get to design the exact way that you want your home, to your own specifications and needs. But building a home yourself can also risk overlooking important aspects of the homebuilding process. If you are looking at building your home, there are certain things to never forget. Here are three critical aspects of home building that you cannot go without when building a home.

Secure Building Permits

According to This Old House, the most common mistake you see from people building their own homes is forgetting to secure building permits. Even though you are building your own home, you still need the proper government permits to do your build legally. Make sure that you check with your local building department to get all the permits that you need. The last thing you want are fines, lawsuits, or having to put a hold on your build because you didn’t fill out paperwork or adhere to the proper regulations.

Get Inspections

Second, you should be getting your build inspected at every step of the process to make sure that each step is done properly. Otherwise, you run the risk of completing the build only then to realize there is a foundational issue or other problem that is going to mean going to be very costly now or later. According to J Bixler Inspections, your framing should be inspected before builders install the drywall. At this stage, it is still early enough to fix most problems without a major reconsideration of the project. Don’t skimp on inspections.

Use Quality Material

The last thing a homeowner wants is to finish their build and then a few years later be stuck with tons of maintenance and repairs. Heritage Builders recommends you focus on using quality, sturdy materials in your home build to make sure that you are going to have a stable and strong home for a long time to come. Saving money on shoddy materials isn’t going to save you money in the long run when you are dealing with near constant repairs and perhaps even depreciation on your home if it is falling into disrepair. Invest in quality materials!

Building your own home is a great opportunity. But it requires some planning to avoid critical problems. Make sure you think about these three essential aspects of home building before you start so that you will get everything you put into it.

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For most people, the attic is one of the most neglected areas in their entire home. It can be hard to get up the motivation to clean out your attic and get back to work in the space. However, it is important to make sure that your attic is clean and tidy so you can prevent problems in your home. When you are cleaning your attic, it is important that you tread carefully so you don’t exacerbate an existing issue.

Dust and Debris

If you haven’t cleaned out your attic in a while, it is probably going to be pretty dusty up there. If you want to clean your attic safely, it is important that you keep an eye out for dust and protect yourself from the dust particles in the air. Wearing a mask can help protect your respiratory system and keep dust out of your body. This is especially important if you have allergies since the dust can be incredibly aggravating to your breathing. Take steps to protect yourself from dust so you don’t experience a major increase in allergy symptoms.

Pests

Your attic may also be the home to a variety of different pests. If you happen to run into any pests in your attic it is a good idea to deal with them as quickly and safely as possible. If it seems like a major issue, you may want to reach out to a professional who can safely remove any pests. Pests can range from small animals to insects or other bothersome and even dangerous creatures. For example, black and brown widows are commonly found across the South.

Mold

If your attic has any areas that tend to get or stay moist, you may have to worry about a potential mold issue. Mold can be especially dangerous if you breathe in the spores. If you notice mold growing in your attic, it is best to call in a mold expert. They can identify the kind of mold you are dealing with and help you to clean out the space in the safest possible way.

Cleaning your attic can be a challenge and a frustrating thing to deal with, but it also is important. By making sure you clean your attic regularly, you can help it to stay cleaner and ensure that your attic is safer and more comfortable. Feel free to call in the professionals if it feels like the job is too big for you to handle.

If you find problems with the roof while cleaning your attic, visit this page for information on roofing services!

Stop for a minute to really think about your home and the way it is. What is the impression you’re left with? Do you love it? Or are there some improvements you would like to make? The truth is that nearly everyone would like to improve something about their home if money weren’t an issue. The good news is that there are things you can do to make your home renovations more affordable.

Open a Line of Credit

If the total cost of a home renovation is more than what you can afford with what resources you already have, opening a line of credit for the purpose of making your improvements may be an option worth looking into. There are a few different options you can look into. There’s always a credit card, but those tend to have lower credit limits and higher interest rates. If you’ve built up at least 20% equity in your home, can show proof of income, that you have steady employment, and have a good credit score, you may qualify for a HELOC.

Look for Tax Breaks

You may have noticed that the federal government is trying to push for more climate-friendly innovations and conditions (at least one half of them seem to be, anyway). The truth is that this isn’t something that started when Biden became president. Certain green renovations, like adding a solar energy system to your home, are eligible for tax breaks which can help offset the cost of the renovation. You should take advantage of solar tax credits now because they will begin expiring in 2022.

Know When to DIY and When to Call a Pro

One of the things people often do to try to make renovations more affordable is to do them themselves. In some cases, that works out just fine. Not all home renovations require highly specialized tools, knowledge, or skills. If you have all of those things for the project at hand, you may be able to save money on labor with a DIY renovation. That said, leave other home renovation projects to the pros. If you try to do something you don’t have the right tools, knowledge, or skills for, you could wind up making costly mistakes or even injuring yourself. No one wants to pay for a medical bill that could have been avoided.

If there’s a change you would like to make in your home, you don’t have to feel like it’s always going to be out of reach because of the cost. Things like opening a line of credit, looking for tax breaks, and knowing when you can do something yourself and when you need to call for professional assistance are just some of the things you can do to make your home renovations more affordable. Decide what your priorities are and let that help you decide how to best allocate the resources you have.

Read this next: Fun Decisions You Get to Make When Renovating

This year, prices on the housing market have skyrocketed, making it difficult for many people to buy or rent homes. Still, many see now as a good time to sell their home and buy a new one, as they’ll be getting a selling price that is significantly higher than usual. If you are trying to find a way to buy a new home in the near future, here are a few tools that will help you to navigate the market and find a successful deal.

Good Credit

First off, in order to buy a home, Quicken Loans says it is very important that you have a good credit score. A lot of mortgage lenders have minimum credit score limits in order to be considered for a loan. Most of these minimums are somewhere in the 600s. Some lenders will accept a lower credit score if you pay a larger down payment. However, you’ll generally get a good deal for a conventional mortgage loan if your credit score is somewhere in the 600s or 700s. This is why having a high credit score can literally pay off.

Loan Assistance Programs

If your credit score isn’t as high as you would like, don’t panic. There are lots of loan assistance programs that help people like you to get a good deal on a mortgage. One of these loan assistance programs is run through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which offers insured loans. According to Murray Home Loans, FHA loans offer lower rates and smaller down payments than other loans. These loans also come along with less risk for lenders, since they are insured, which makes them a lot easier to obtain even if you don’t have the best credit history.

Mortgage Calculators

The worst thing would be going through all of the effort to find the perfect home and place a down payment, only to find that you can’t swing the high mortgage that it comes with. In order to prevent a problem like this from happening, NewHome Source says you should use a mortgage calculator as you are viewing homes and placing offers. With each home, use a mortgage calculator to predict your mortgage and other monthly fees. This will help you to be financially prepared to buy your future home.

As you’re preparing to buy your first home, remember that the challenging process can be made easier by using the tools that have been discussed in this article. Even if you’re just considering buying a home, using loan assistance programs and mortgage calculators can help you determine if you’d actually be able to afford one. By using these tools and preparing yourself financially, you will be setting yourself up for a successful home buying experience.

Read this next: Fun Decisions You Get to Make When Renovating

When you’re prepping for a home renovation, there are a lot of things to think about. Figuring out your main goals for the space overall will help you tailor your plans as you go. Be sure to enlist the help and advice of experts to ensure you’re going to make positive changes to your home.

Color Scheme

Figuring out your color scheme in your new space is always fun. One of the best places to start when determining your color scheme is with the overall feel of the room—are you wanting calming colors? Or bright cheery colors? Mainly wood tones and an industrial feel?

Asking yourself these questions will help you determine the foundational colors of the space. Then as you think about all the details, you might find yourself adding pops of color that don’t initially seem to fit with the color scheme but actually add depth to the room.

Materials

Picking your materials for your specific renovation project is often one of the most important but also most fun parts of the renovation process. As you think about your renovations do your research to figure out what kind of look you are going for overall. Depending on that desire, you’ll be able to get a rough idea of the types of materials you may be looking at.

This is especially important for kitchen renovations where the materials are not only important for their looks but also for their function. When redoing countertops, quartz and granite both offer great features.

Layout

Another fun aspect of any renovation project is the end layout of the space you are changing up. Sometimes the decision of where everything will be in the finished room is pretty easy—maybe your original room had good bones but was simply outdated. Other times, your renovation might involve making two rooms out of one or adding a new built-in desk space to your kitchen area.

As you think about your layout, make sure you think carefully about functionality. You might initially be set on kitchen cabinets with glass windows—but will you need that space as storage rather than as decoration?

As you figure out where you want to take your renovation, make sure you think through your non-negotiables. If you know the things you have to have in your new bathroom or kitchen, you can center the renovation around those things. Then, even if you have to change the plan a bit as the renovation progresses, you’ll still be satisfied with the finished product.

To get started on your renovation project, contact us here!

If you are in the market for a new home or rental property, here are a few things you should know about buying or renting a home. There are lots of common mistakes that homebuyers make as they are in a rush to close on a deal. These mistakes can actually greatly affect the quality of the home that you close on if you’re not careful. Here are a few things to look out for when you’re browsing the home buyer’s market today.

Not Seeing the House in Person

Today, many home buyers aren’t actually going to the home to look at the property in person before buying. While this may seem easier or more time effective, neglecting to see the house in person can raise many problems. No matter how realistic or accurate the posted photos of the house might seem, there are elements of the house that will always look different in real life. The owner might have even neglected to capture specific parts of the home, like broken elements in need of repairs, that you wouldn’t know about until you’d actually move in. According to Howard Hanna, it is important to do a walk-through of any property that you’re interested in buying so you know what you’re actually getting yourself into.

Waiving an Inspection

Another huge mistake that home buyers today make is waiving the home inspection that is usually expected when buying a home. This is a problem because inspectors are hired to find different kinds of damage, like water damage, that could have occurred on the property. This will be able to help you identify any issues occurring on the property that you would need to repair upon buying the home. According to J Bixler Inspections, an inspection can take several hours to complete, and you may want to be present for the inspection so you can take note of any issues. Being fully aware of the conditions of the property will help you to make the decision to buy the house or not.

Underestimating The Down Payment

One of the most unfortunate mistakes that homebuyers make is underestimating the down payment on the home. Usually, down payments can be anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent of the entire home value, which can be quite a hefty bill for homebuyers to pay. If you anticipate that you’ll be looking to buy a home in the near future, try to save at least enough money for the average down payment of homes in your price range. According to BB&T, the more you can save for the down payment, the better because the more financially prepared you’ll be.

Now that you’re aware of these common mistakes that many homebuyers make in today’s market, try to avoid them. Remember how to successfully maneuver each of these challenges, as discussed in this article. If you take the time to view, inspect, and save for the home that you want to purchase, you’ll be a lot more successful in closing on the home of your dreams.

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If someone were to ask you what the weather in Arizona is like, the answer could reasonably be something about it resembling an oven. Arizona is hot. That can make having a pool in your backyard a very attractive idea. But is it a good idea for you? There are some questions you should answer for yourself before you make your final decision.

Does a Pool Fit Your Lifestyle?

Pools can be a lot of fun for the vast majority of people, but there’s a huge difference between someone who wants to go for a swim multiple times a week and someone who is content with an occasional dip in the pool here and there. If you’re more like the latter, having a pool doesn’t make much sense. It makes a lot more sense for an avid swimmer who has time to swim regularly, though. Swimming has lots of health benefits, so if it’s something that fits your lifestyle, it’s worth considering.

Are You Prepared to Keep It Nice?

There’s more to having your own pool than just going swimming whenever you want though. You need to be prepared to keep it nice and clean or hire someone to do it for you. Proper pool maintenance helps keep pools in good condition and needs to be done regularly. It keeps your pool running smoothly and makes it safe for swimming. Regular maintenance takes time and money, so if you aren’t prepared for that or able to afford it, you may be better off using the community pool instead of adding your own.

Can You Keep It Secured?

Having a pool can be a lot of fun, but it also poses an inherent danger. Young children are especially vulnerable to the dangers of a pool. If you have a pool, it becomes your responsibility to do everything you can to keep your pool secured and closed off from people who shouldn’t be accessing it. Your area will have regulations that govern the type of security you need to have for your pool. Make sure you’re familiar with them before you decide to add one to your property.

Adding a pool can be a great way to enhance your home, but it’s not something that makes sense for everyone. Before deciding to get a pool, make sure it’s something that fits with your lifestyle, that you’re prepared to keep it in good condition, and that you’ll be able to secure it. Once you’ve weighed all the factors and your options, then you can feel confident that you’re making the best decision for you and your home.

Read this next: Home Improvements That Are Tax Deductible

When it comes to doing your taxes, figuring out which home improvements are tax deductible can seem like quite a tricky process. You want to make sure that you cover all your bases to minimize the amount you’re paying. While you may have thought about a lot of different home improvements that are tax deductible, you may not have thought of these.

Room Additions

Home improvements that substantially add to the value of your home can sometimes be difficult to write-off when it comes to your taxes. However, there are a few room additions to be aware of that can be tax deductible.

One of the main room additions you can write-off is the addition of a home office. If you convert another room into a home office or upgrade your current office by adding bookshelves, know that you can usually write-off that expense as a business expense.

Roof Replacement

When it comes to tax deductions for your roof, there are a couple of things to be aware of. For the next couple of years, you can get tax deductions for upgrading your home with more energy-efficient aspects. For most energy-efficient upgrades, by and large, you can expect to get some sort of tax deduction. And this is especially true of an upgrade like installing a new energy-efficient roof. While you're at it, you can add a solar system to your new roof to take advantage of the 26% federal tax credit that comes with it until the end of 2022.

Medically Related Renovations

In addition to adding more energy-efficient aspects to your home, you can generally get a tax deduction for renovations on your home that are made for medical purposes. If for example, you have to add a ramp next to your stairs, you can generally get a deduction for the materials and cost of installation.

You can only get reimbursed for medical expenses that weren’t compensated by insurance. Additionally, when you add on to your home, you can only get a partial deduction if the additions add value to your home.

Figuring out how to properly account for all your home improvement tax deductions can be difficult at first. There are so many different things to be aware of. Starting with this list can help you get moving towards getting your taxes done.

Are you ready to improve your home? Let us make your project easier with our construction services!