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Your home should be your sanctuary, but sometimes it’s difficult to brush off the strain of the afternoon and sink into the serenity. That is particularly true when your house is more chaos than calm. Use these methods to create a space that’s soothing, therefore, regardless of what the day holds, you always have an inviting spot to come home to.

Adding some greenery
Various studies have demonstrated that plants can make your home feel calmer and ease anxiety. Plants such as jasmine and English ivy can improve sleep, lavender and rosemary may lower stress, and other crops have been shown to improve air quality so that you breathe easier.

Hide the electronics
“Nobody wants to stare in a tangle of wires,” said Houzz. “Thankfully, we’ve got more choices than ever for maintaining our tech apparatus hidden away. When possible, choose wireless, smaller devices that look less obtrusive even when left out in the open. Tie up cords in a network center so they are not visible, and devote a single drawer to storing all your chargers, power cords and small tech devices when they are not being used.”

Get a dog
Or a cat, a bird, or even a turtle, for this matter. Yes, having a pet can mean more noise and more mess. But, there are a myriad of studies that show that using a pet lowers stress. “Researchers found that pet-owning patients with high blood pressure could keep their blood pressure reduced during times of psychological stress than individuals without pets,” stated AnimalSmart.org. “Another study indicates that pet owners may also have increased odds of living for at least a year after having a heart attack”

Clear the mess
Going all Marie Kondo on your home can have surprising effects on your mental state. “Clutter can play a substantial role in how we feel about our homes, our offices, and ourselves,” said psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter in Psychology Today. “Messy houses and work spaces leave us feeling stressed , helpless, and overwhelmed.”

Tone down the harsh colours
There’s something to be said for moving daring, but soft colours can bring on a calming feeling. If you want a deeper color, consider shades of greens and blues –two colors that are known to be more serene than, say bright yellow, orange, or reddish.

Clean up your entryway
It’s the very first place guests visit, and while you probably don’t pass through or by front entry all that often in the event that you park in the garage, maybe it does not feel as welcoming as you would like when you do.

Soften the light
Harsh overhead lighting can make you feel like you’re becoming interrogated, and can also be tough on your eyes. Should you need to keep it because the distance will be too dark differently, a dimmer will give you some control over just how bright it is, and permit you to create a mood with lower light as needed.

Limit the patterns
“Elect for solids and subtle patterns,” explained Houzz. “Busy patterns have their place, however if you’re aiming for calm, then solid fabrics are your friends.

Buy some new flowers
Make your master bedroom a zen zone
Getting excellent remainder is critical, and there are numerous ways you can make a relaxing area. Keeping the colors calm is vital, and so is a good mattress. Loading the bed up with soft textures may also help.

WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR HOME’S VALUE

November 21, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Looking for some ways to increase the value of your home? Whether you are thinking about listing your home for sale, or you’re interested in putting a fresh face on your home you proudly own, consider these ways to increase your home’s value:

1) Repaint your front door. A fresh coat of paint can add personality, hide scuffs and dirt, and give your home an entirely NEW curb appeal. This weekend project is inexpensive and a great way to increase your home’s value!

2) Spread some fresh mulch in your front yard. It’s an inexpensive and high-impact way to improve the look of your landscaping. Cover up the gray, weathered mulch covering your shrubs now – it will do wonders.

3) Paint your kitchen cabinets. Are your cabinets needing a fresh stain or paint? This can do wonders for the overall color of your home – painting old cabinets a light cream color can have a brightening affect on your whole house.

4) Update (or paint) your hardware in bathrooms, kitchens, on door handles, light fixtures… think dark on white, modern paired with rustic.

5) Add crown molding… this gives a home a warmth and some character. Consider crown molding in your living room – the difference it makes can be shocking.

6) Turn any room into a bedroom by adding a closet. If you have an opportunity to create a true “closet” in an office or spare room, DO IT because adding a closet to a room means adding a bedroom to the total bedroom count of a home. This expands your reach on search engines and can draw in an entirely new group of buyers.

7) Add visible storage. Floating shelves in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms can be a simple weekend project that turns out to be “so worth it” and not just for re-sale purposes. Chances are, you have something on the floor in your laundry room which could be hung up.

8) Swap out your outdated light fixtures with fresh new ones adding personality and color to any room!

9) Go for neutral paint colors if you are planning on re-painting -light, airy colors that go with anything. Avoid anything evoking one certain season (rich reds of winter, dark browns of autumn) and remember to paint your trim something complimentary.

10) Update window frames. Consider adding crown molding to the tops of your window frames; this has a HUGE visual impact and costs less than adding crown molding across your entire ceiling.

11) Add mirrors to your wall decorations, this makes the space feel bigger, plus mirrors are neutral and sure to please anyone’s tastes.

12) Rather than removing an older bath tub, consider painting the one you currently have. This less expensive alternative LOOKS like a new bathtub (especially if you update hardware).

Hopefully these ways to increase your home’s value proved helpful! Call our Real Estate Team, Preferred Properties of Texas, for more information about listing your home for sale. 254-965-7775

4 Aspects of Your Roof That’ll Affect Your Home Resale Value

November 20, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Although it’s easy to forget about while you own your home, you can be sure that your roof won’t be overlooked when it comes time to sell. After all, without a good roof in place, your home will be unprotected, which could lead to some nasty surprises for the future buyers. If you want to take steps to fix your roof before you selling, here are a few things that you should focus on:

Missing Shingles

If you have missing shingles, you can expect your home’s resale value to decrease. Even if the shingles haven’t been missing for long enough to cause any water damage, missing shingles still communicate to buyers that you don’t take much pride in your home. To prevent this misconception, it’s important to inspect your roof before you sell your home and make sure that any missing shingles are replaced.

Roof Material

Although people like their home to be unique, one home feature that this doesn’t always extend to is the roof. Unique roofing materials such as metal, clay tiles or wood tend to not be used as often because of the popularity of asphalt shingles. Therefore, if you have one of these unique materials on your home, your potential pool of buyers could be limited. The good news, though, is that for a buyer who’s looking for a unique roof, your home will be a must-have item.

Age

A simple factor that impacts your home’s resale value is the age of the roof. Since most shingle roofs have about a 20-year lifespan, if your roof is approaching that age, it could lower your home’s value. Since replacing a roof can be a big expense, a buyer may try to ask you for some concessions to help cover the cost of a new roof, which could lower your profit from the sale. If you can get a good deal on roof replacement, it may make sense to go ahead and replace the entire roof before you list your home for sale.

Roof Lines

The roof lines of a home can add a lot of drama to its exterior appearance. If your home has modern roof lines, then you’ll likely be able to fetch a higher selling price than if the roof lines appear dated. Of course, if you have a timeless roof line, such as a gable roof, then your home will likely sell well any time you place it on the market.

A great way to avoid surprises with your roof when you sell your home is to properly maintain it while you own your home. By having it inspected every few years, you’ll be able to stay on top of any potential problems so that they don’t become deterrents to future buyers. This will help make your selling process easier and help you to receive a higher selling price.

Tips for Managing Water Heater Installation

November 19, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

Getting a new water heater installed at your house isn’t something that you have to do very often. With that in mind, it’s important to ensure that any installation is done properly to keep it from causing damage to your home or wasting energy.

Ideally, a new water heater should last around ten years with proper maintenance. Whether your old one is breaking down or you just built a new house, you can use these tips to manage the installation process:

When to Install a New Water Heater

When a water heater breaks, all kinds of things can happen. A faulty unit can leak water all over the floor and ruin the building materials. You could be caught by surprise by a cold shower when you least expect it. Many people choose to install a new water heater once theirs reaches a certain age or fails an inspection. You may also need to arrange for a replacement if yours makes strange noises or springs a small leak.

Figure Out Your Preferences

There’s more that goes into purchasing a water heater than you may think. For instance, newer tankless models provide an endless supply of hot water. This upgrade might be your best option if you have a large family and are constantly running out of hot water. There are also electric and gas styles along with different sizes. A water heater contractor can help you determine the one that’ll best fit your household’s needs.

Choose a Professional Installer

At first glance, replacing a hot water heater might seem simple. However, there’s far more that goes into a proper installation than meets the eye. Hot water heaters have the potential to be dangerous. Faulty installations can lead to explosions that can cause scalding water and debris to go flying. A professional installer also knows how to make sure that all of the connections and hoses are sealed tight. This prevents potentially damaging gas and water leaks.

Schedule the Installation at a Convenient Time

Unless there’s an unusual situation, it only takes a few hours to install a water heater. However, a typical installation does require the water that leads to the unit to be turned off. This means that the best time to have the heater installed is when you don’t need to bathe or wash dishes. Most people find that the later morning to midday hours work best for convenient installations.

There’s nothing like enjoying a hot bath or shower. And hot water is also essential for keeping your house sanitary. If you suspect that your home’s current water heater is having issues, then start arranging for a new one to be installed today. Acting now can prevent serious damage from a faulty unit, and you’ll love having a steady stream of hot water for bathing and cleaning!

Why Leaves are Valueable to the Gardener

November 18, 2020 by chorton Leave a Comment

When incorporated into soil, fall leaves:

Add nutrients, including phosphorous and potassium
Increase the soil’s microbial life
Boost its water-holding capacity
Improve its structure, known as tilth

Together, shredded leaves and grass clippings add carbon (leaves) and nitrogen (grass) to the soil, reducing your need to add store-bought fertilizers later.

Use a mulching mower. If there’s a bag, take it off and mow with the discharge chute facing toward the lawn, so the clippings blow on the grass instead of on the street or driveway. Set the mower height at about 3 inches. Make another pass if the leaves are still in big pieces. The shredded leaves should sit no more than ¾ inch deep on the grass. Over the winter they will break down into the soil and be gone by spring.

You can incorporate whole or chopped leaves into any cleared-out vegetable beds. They will mostly decompose over the winter, then in spring you can mix in whatever is left. If you don’t want to see leftover leaves in your beds, shred them first.

Don’t have a shredder? A garbage can and a string trimmer will work. Use a 55-gallon garbage can. Fill it three-quarters of the way with leaves. Put the string trimmer in, turn it on and move it through the layers of leaves. Be sure to wear eye and ear protection.

Leaf mold is simply wet leaves that have decomposed into a rich, black, soil-like substance that makes a perfect mulch for plants. Pile the leaves in a spot where they’re out of the way and won’t blow away. Or make large (3- or 4-foot) circles of chicken wire, 3 feet high, and pile the leaves in them. Wet the leaves as you go so they’ll rot. Turning the pile a few times during the winter will accelerate the process.

Mix Leaves — Shredded or Not — Into a Compost Pile Now, Where They’ll Break Down Over Winter

Even better: Stockpile dried leaves, in garbage bags or piled in that out-of-the-way place, for summer. In warm weather there’s an abundance of succulent green material (nitrogen) for your compost pile. But to keep the composting process aerobically working, and not rotting, it needs lots of “browns” (carbon), in the form of dried material.

When the weather turns cold and potted plants (the hardy ones, not houseplants or tropicals, which must be brought indoors) go dormant, pick a sheltered place on the north, west or east side of your house. Cluster the pots together against the house, ideally beneath an overhang. Pile dried leaves over, under and between the entire grouping of pots.

If the area is windy, corral the pots with chicken wire so the leaves won’t blow away. Pile the leaves inches deep, covering the pot and as much of the plant as possible. Under this insulating blanket, both plants and pots should come through the winter just fine. With this method, even terra-cotta pots can stay outdoors, as long as water can’t get into them and freeze.

The worst thing you can do with fall leaves? Burn them. Most municipalities have banned leaf burning, and for good reason. Burning leaves pollutes the air, causes problems for people with respiratory illnesses and creates a fire hazard. Besides, as you can see, there are so many more worthwhile things to do with leaves.