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A pool can be a relaxing place to spend time with family members on a hot summer day. Sometimes a pool is worth the investment and sometimes it isnt.

How Much Will a Pool Cost?
Installing a pool can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. Routine maintenance can cost several hundred dollars per year if you do it yourself and much more if you hire professionals to handle it. You also have to factor in electricity to run a pump and heater.

A pool might be included in your other structures homeowners insurance coverage, but you should check with your insurance company about any additional costs. Since a pool is a potential danger to children, your insurer may require you to install a fence with a locked gate around it to prevent an accident. You may also have to increase your liability coverage.

When Is Installing a Pool a Good Investment?
An in-ground pool can add to your homes value, but an above-ground pool most likely will not. If the area around an in-ground pool has a patio that is large enough to host a barbecue and has flowers and greenery, potential buyers could view it as an oasis.

If most of the houses in your neighborhood have pools and your home doesnt, that can be a liability if you decide to sell your home in the future. Adding a pool can help you compete with other sellers in the area to attract a buyer.

In an area that has warm weather for the bulk of the year, many prospective buyers will have a pool on their wish list. Some might not even consider a house that doesnt have one.

When Will a Pool Not Add to Your Homes Value?
A pool may not be as important to buyers in parts of the country where its only warm enough to go swimming for a few months each year. In fact, some buyers think that a pool would be too much trouble to maintain and avoid buying a house that has one.

Adding a pool may not be a good idea if you have a small yard. A pool will either be too small to appeal to buyers or it will take up so much of the yard that there will not be enough room for kids and pets to play. In that case, a pool can drive away potential buyers with families. Some buyers, particularly those with young children, might also view a pool as a safety hazard.

Should You Install a Pool?
A pool may or may not increase your homes value. It will depend to a large extent on your location. If a pool raises your homes value, you will recoup some, but not all, of your investment. Resale value is one thing to consider if youre thinking about installing a pool, but you should also think about how much your family would use it and how much time and money it would cost to maintain it.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

State laws require sellers to disclose problems with a house to prospective buyers. If you are legally required to disclose an issue and you dont, the deal may fall through or you may be sued after the buyer learns that you covered up the problem.

What are Sellers Required to Disclose?
Laws on which facts sellers are required to disclose to potential buyers vary from state to state. In general, sellers must reveal information that could affect a homes value.

Some states require sellers to disclose a death that was not due to natural causes that occurred on the property. Others require disclosures about a death caused by the condition of the property.

A variety of state laws require sellers to disclose nuisances, such as noise and odors. Depending on where you live, you may be required to reveal the presence of hazardous substances, lead paint, drainage problems, previous water damage, the risk of natural disasters, pests or paranormal activity.

If the house is missing any appliances or key components that a buyer would expect, you should disclose that. If you had the house repaired, you should inform potential buyers because they may want to have the home inspector focus on those areas to make sure that the repairs were performed correctly. Buyers may also want the inspector to check for other problems that might be related to the issue you had repaired.

If the house belongs to a homeowners association, you should disclose that. If you dont, a buyer may be confronted with unexpected fees after moving in.

Dont Try to Cover Up Potentially Damaging Information
If you fail to disclose material facts to a potential buyer as required by your states laws, the buyer may discover the information independently and may decide not to buy the house. Then you may have to relist your home and start looking for another buyer. You may also have to delay your move or continue to make mortgage payments after you have moved into your new home. If the sale goes ahead and the buyer learns that you failed to disclose important information after moving in, the buyer may sue you.

Your real estate agent can tell you what facts your states laws require you to disclose. He or she may give you a form with a checklist or a series of questions to complete. Even if a disclosure is not legally required, it may be in your best interest to be up front about it so you wont have to worry that a potential buyer might back out of the deal later. If you have any questions, talk to your real estate agent.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Though it is common to stage a home for in-person showings and listing pictures, there may be a house you visit or view that has some unique, even borderline odd features from the current residents. Agents will always suggest that homeowners looking to sell should clean and declutter their homes, however, this is not required. Unfortunately, these things can become distracting, especially when you love the layout, location and style of the home itself. Here are a few strange, ugly and even unsightly things you should ignore when considering making an offer on your next home.

Uncommon Uses for Rooms
Many homeowners will turn spare bedrooms into offices or dining rooms into gyms. Some may even use these spaces in stranger ways. But just because they use these rooms for strange or unusual reasons doesnt mean you have to. If you come across a home you like, but the current homeowner utilizes space in a different way, try and remember that you can make it into anything you desire once its yours.

Off-Putting Wallpaper or Paint Color
Though many buyers, especially millennials, prefer a turnkey or move-in ready home, the reality is, that is not guaranteed. This is especially true when viewing an older home or one that the current homeowners have lived in for many years, even generations. It is important to look past the outdated floral wallpaper or an unusual paint color. These are things that can always be tackled later on. Painting or replacing wallpaper doesnt have to be time-consuming or expensive, and can be done before moving in.

Dirty Floors and Carpets
Similar to the walls, floors can have a prominent effect on a buyers view of a home. If a wall-to-wall carpet is excessively dirty or stained, this may steer you away. Same goes for a hardwood or tile floor that may be old and outdated. However, these are easy changes. New flooring and carpeting or a deep clean may be the answer to making this space exactly what you want. Consider speaking with the sellers about replacing a damaged or stained carpet, or lower your offer as a contingency for purchasing the home. Just be sure to not let this steer you away.

Obvious Personal Presence
It can be difficult to imagine you and your family living in a home where there are multiple family portraits and other personal belongings strewn across a home. However, if the seller decides not to remove these items, buyers may need to look past them in order to obtain their dream home. The same thing can be said for messes, as many buyers may not feel comfortable getting into closets and cabinets surrounded by the seller’s clutter. Do your best to ignore the things you can change later on and decide whether or not you can make this house your home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Heres how to revamp your garage to take your home to the next level.

Start With the Floors

Porcelain tile is the perfect surface as it combines an elegant appearance with durability.

Look to the Lights

If you want to really show off your cars, quality lighting is essential.

Lift it up

A car lift is an exciting way to, quite literally, take your parking situation to new heights.

Doors Matter

Matching your garage doors to your homes architectural style creates a cohesive design.

Take it for a Spin

When you truly want to take the leap from garage to showroom, a car turntable is the way to do it.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Creating an atmosphere that stimulates the magic and whimsy of childhood while retaining a sophistication that can grow with your child can be a difficult balance. A great theme can help you walk that line beautifully. These kids bedroom ideas inspire playful adventures and peaceful nap times, all while exhibiting a modern appeal that even teens and adults can enjoy.

Black, White and Green
A modern take on a quintessentially boy theme, this color scheme is perfect for any child who loves sports and wants to bring their joy of the game into their room. A black and white base offers a modern, minimalist edge, while a few pops of kelly green adds interest and nods to the grassy fields of your players favorite sport. Repeat black and white stripes for a referee motif or a few hexagonal designs nodding to the classic soccer ball. Add in a few pennant flags, and a trophy or two, and youll have a modern sports theme that your all-star will adore for years to come.

Nautical Nods
Sailboats dont have to be relegated to guest bedrooms and nurseries. A nautical theme offers childhood fun with a grown-up approach. Choose shades of blue, grey and creams for a nautical beach feel or sail the high seas with deep reds, navy blues and white. Coastal lanterns, sketches of seafaring vessels, a dappling of seashells or even some lighthouse paraphernalia all lend a whimsical and grown-up feel.

Jungle Vibes
What is more exciting to a child than the idea of exploring an untouched jungle? A white base keeps this theme fun but modern and allows for pops of accent prints throughout the room. Keep the room perfectly on-trend with an accent wall of banana leaf wallpaper, while keeping furniture and bedding neutral to anchor the space. Add texture and a playful feel with an animal print area rug and accent pillows. Jutes and light wood furniture serve to balance the space and ensure that your child can enjoy a jungle oasis as they age out of the playtime years.

The perfect theme allows your child to have a place of their own to explore and play during their younger years while providing the perfect space to relax, complete homework and enjoy with friends as they age. The ideal theme will serve your child far longer than this year, or the next, and will help them to cultivate a space they can truly call their own as they age.

Published with permission from RISMedia.