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Home is where the heart is, as they say. To truly make your house your own, and to turn it into the place of comfort and relaxation that it should be, you do need to show your home a little extra love. These inexpensive ideas will have you falling more in love with your home.

Add Some Fresh Flowers
Nothing says you care like fresh flowers, and nothing will spruce up your room in quite the same way. Add a pop of color and an air of intention to your space with a vase full of your favorite blooms.

Brighten it Up
A home that feels dull and dark doesnt feel well-loved. Brighten up your rooms with extra light fixtures of your choice or by opting for a sheer window covering that will provide a bit of privacy while letting in the sunshine during the day. Whatever you do, theres no doubt that a bright and cheery home is a mood booster for everyone living in it.

Declutter Ten Items
Letting go of excess baggage is good for any relationship and its true for your home too. Take a minute to select 10 items that you could live without. Donate those items. Just dont make it complicated. Remember, this isnt a long drawn-out decluttering session, but a quick way to let go of a few items weighing down your living space.

Add Some Art
If you have been hesitant to hang art, theres no better time. Art will lend a personal and polished look to your home. Dont be afraid to splurge on art you love and that youll enjoy for years to come. If you arent sure what to look for, find a low-budget option to see how a particular style feels in a room. When youre ready, you can spring for the real thing.

Gift a Signature Scent
Show your home a little extra devotion by choosing a signature scent. Find a candle that you love and light it often to ensure that your home smells like more than yesterdays fish dinner or your pets furry dog bed. Opt for a gentle scent that will waft through your home if used regularly. Similar to perfume application, you want a hint of a lingering and tantalizing scent. You dont want to be overpowered with the smell the instant you walk into a room.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre tired and eager to get home, it can be a hassle to get out of your car and manually open the garage door, climb back into the car, pull into the garage and then close the garage door. This can be particularly inconvenient if its dark, raining or cold. An automatic garage door opener can make your life easier and less stressful, but there are some downsides to consider.

Increased Safety and Security
If you have medical issues that make it difficult to bend or lift, manually opening a garage door several times a day can take a toll on your physical health and possibly lead to injuries. An automatic garage door opener can eliminate those risks.

A manual garage door can go crashing to the ground, even if something or someone is in the way, which can cause serious injuries or death to children or pets. Automatic garage doors have sensors that can detect an obstruction and cause the garage door to stop and remain in place or return to the ceiling.

Since an automatic garage door can only be opened by pressing a button or by entering a secret passcode, it will be difficult for burglars to break in. This is particularly important if your garage is attached to your house. Remote controls utilize technology that repeatedly changes the passcode to prevent hackers from obtaining that information and using it to enter a garage without permission. With an automatic garage door opener, you wont have to install extra locks or a security system to keep intruders out of your garage.

Power Outages
Since automatic garage door openers need electricity to operate, a power outage can render an opener useless. An emergency release cord can disengage the garage door from the automatic opener if the electricity goes out, so youll be able to manually open and close the door until power is restored.

Costs
Automatic garage door openers can be complicated to install, so the job should be done by a professional. Installation costs depend on the type and size of the doors and the company performing the work.

In addition, automatic garage door openers require special batteries that need to be replaced about every two years, plus routine maintenance, such as cleaning to prevent rust. Repairs and replacement of damaged or worn-out parts may be expensive.

Should You Install Automatic Garage Door Openers?
Many homeowners enjoy the convenience and security of having automatic garage doors, as well as the reduced risk of accidents and injuries. Its important to be aware of the downsides, though. If youre interested in having automatic garage door openers installed, contact a few local companies and ask about the models they offer and the costs.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Bored with your basic kitchen? These inexpensive updates will liven things up in no time!

Add style to standard wood cabinets with a quick coat of paint. Try painting the lower cabinets a dark color, like gray or navy, and the upper cabinets white.

Open up a closed space by converting a cabinet to open shelving. Just remove the door and leave the shelving and back of the cabinet in place.

Update older appliances with appliance-approved paint or magnetic stainless panels.

Create an airy feeling by taking down a pantry or closet door. Install some shelving and stock it with attractive baskets, jars and other containers.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When comparing loan offers from multiple lenders, it can be helpful to look at the Total Interest Percentage (TIP), which is the amount that you would pay in interest over the life of a loan.

Differences Between Interest Rate, APR and Total Interest Percentage
The interest rate is the annual cost of borrowing money to buy a house, but it doesnt reflect the total cost of a mortgage. The APR includes lender fees and other charges and indicates the total cost to borrow money over the term of the mortgage. The Total Interest Percentage, or TIP, doesnt take upfront fees into account, except prepaid interest, if you choose that.

The interest rate and annual percentage rate are based on a one-year period. The TIP is usually much larger since it reflects the amount of interest you would pay over the entire term of a loan.

The TIP can be found in your Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure. The figure is calculated by adding up all scheduled interest payments and dividing by the amount borrowed to arrive at a percentage. For example, if you took out a mortgage for $200,000 and your interest payments over the life of the loan would total $100,000, the Total Interest Percentage would be 50 percent, since the sum of all the interest payments would be half of the amount borrowed.

How Important is TIP?
The TIP calculation assumes that you will keep a mortgage for the entire term and make all payments as scheduled. If youre planning to purchase a home and live there for the rest of your life, the TIP will be important. If youre comparing the terms of 30-year mortgages but you think youll probably sell your house much sooner than that, the TIP may not be as relevant to you.

Other factors could affect the total amount you would pay in interest. If you made extra payments toward the principal, you would pay off the loan sooner and pay less in interest. You might also refinance and get a lower interest rate.

If you requested a Loan Estimate for a mortgage with an adjustable rate, the TIP will be calculated based on current interest rates. The actual amount you would pay in interest and the actual TIP could vary significantly due to future rate changes.

Weigh All Factors When Comparing Loan Offers
When you request mortgage quotes, you will be given several pieces of information. If you plan to stay in a house long-term, the total amount you will pay in interest can be important to consider. If you only expect to live in a house for a relatively short amount of time, the TIP may not be as much of a factor for you. If you have any questions, talk to your real estate agent.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.