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This Is the Smart Home Tech That Luxury Buyers Care About
It seems like theres a revolutionary new tech gadget coming out every other day, making it difficult to keep up with the latest and greatest. The home, in particular, has seen its fair share of advancements that promise to improve virtually every aspect of your daily life, from robot vacuums to smart trash cans. While many of these are considered luxuries, there are, in fact, a few that high-end homebuyers have come to deem essential.
Heres a selection of smart devices that many luxury homebuyers cannot live without:
Security
A smart home security system is never going to be considered excessive. These days there are tons of options to keep your family safe with motion sensors, cameras and locks that can be monitored and controlled via your smartphone. A home thats equipped with a state-of-the-art system like this will certainly be appreciated.
Lighting
Sure, smart lights are often touted for setting the mood when youre entertaining or having family movie night, but there are actually many more benefits, like setting motion sensors to illuminate the hallway when the kids go to the bathroom at night. Plus, you can forget about coming home to a dark house, thanks to smart lights that turn on upon your arrival.
Smoke Detectors
Do you ever wonder if your smoke detectors are even working? Upgrading your house with smart smoke alarms will deliver peace of mind thats sure to catch the attention of any potential buyers, especially those with children or pets. It may not be glamorous, but its one of those small details that make a difference.
Thermostat
Smart thermostats provide an element of convenience with their ability to automatically adapt to your schedule and keep the house just the way you like it at all hours. Hate coming home to a hot or cold house? Well, you can say goodbye to that! The biggest benefit, though, just might be the energy that you save, which could significantly cut your heating and cooling bills.
Published with permission from RISMedia.
5 Improvements That Can Increase Your Home’s Value
Implement these improvements that can increase your homes value…
Updated Kitchen
Upgrading your appliances and replacing dated countertops can transform your cooking space.
Outdoor Living
Add a fire pit or barbecue area to your patio where people can envision themselves hanging out.
Eco-Friendly Features
Energy-efficient windows and appliances have major appeal to those looking to lower their impact on the environment.
Well-Appointed Bathrooms
New tiles and countertops will make the bathroom feel fresh and luxurious.
Increased Curb Appeal
First impressions matter. A new front porch or walkway can pay off when its time to sell your home.
Published with permission from RISMedia.
Should You Use Home Equity to Finance a Child’s College Education?
For many students and their parents, a college education is a top priority. With education costs continually rising, paying for a degree may seem difficult or impossible. Some parents consider using their homes equity to obtain funds for college but arent sure if that would be a wise move.
Benefits of Using Home Equity for Higher Education
Home equity can be easier to access than a traditional loan. To obtain an educational loan yourself, or for your child to obtain one, a lender would require a lengthy application and credit check. If you already have a mortgage and make payments on time, you may find it much easier to secure a home equity loan. If you already have a home equity line of credit, you can simply write a check to your childs university.
Federal student loan programs limit the amounts that can be borrowed each year. If your child will attend an expensive university, you may not be able to borrow enough to cover the entire cost. Meanwhile, your mortgage lender may allow you to borrow up to 90 percent of your homes equity.
Interest rates on home equity loans are generally lower than rates for loans offered by the federal government or by private lenders. The lower interest rate can make a home equity loan the most attractive option if you need to borrow to finance your childs education.
Danger of Using Home Equity
Using home equity to pay for a childs college education is very risky. If you suffered a financial hardship, such as a job loss or unexpected medical bills, you could have limited options to modify or delay your home equity loan payments. Using your home as collateral means you could lose it if you failed to repay the loan. On the other hand, if your child took out student loans, options such as forbearance, deferment, and loan forgiveness could be available to help in tough financial times.
Other Ways to Pay for College
A variety of grants and scholarships are available from universities, community organizations and businesses to help cover the costs of higher education. Your child could work part-time during the school year and work part-time or full-time during the summer. Another option is for your child to attend a less expensive university, at least for a year or two.
Think Carefully Before Tapping Into Your Homes Equity
Using your home to help cover the cost of college may seem like a good idea. While a home equity loan or line of credit can be easy to obtain and can have favorable interest rates, make sure you fully understand the risks. If you suffered a hardship and couldnt repay the debt, a mortgage lender would be less forgiving than a student loan servicer, and you could lose your home. Think things over carefully and explore other sources of funds, as well as the possibility of your child attending a different institution.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.
Published with permission from RISMedia.
Some Tips for DIY Tree Removal
Getting rid of dead trees is more complex than many people realize, and you could run into an array of issues if you aren’t careful. Luckily, with the right equipment and a solid plan, you should be able to get that dead foliage off your property before you know it. Here are three things to keep in mind when removing dead trees from your property:
Don’t Start During Inclement Weather
Removing dead trees is extremely hazardous during certain times of the year. If there are high winds or the tree is covered in snow, for example, then you should probably put the project off for at least a few weeks. That said, a little bit of rain could actually help you out. The rainwater is going to saturate all of the soil around the tree, which will make it much easier to pull out the roots. You can also soak the ground with a garden hose if you’re carrying out this project during the dry season.
Always Use the Proper Safety Gear
Well before you start removing any trees from your property, make sure you have the proper safety gear. Without safety equipment, you could end up dealing with serious injuries, including lacerations, sprains, broken bones and head trauma. At the very least, you need to wear eye protection, ear protection and a hard hat when you’re removing the trees. You should also consider wearing high-quality gloves, thick pants, a heavy jacket and reinforced boots”clothes that’ll greatly reduce your risk of minor cuts and scratches.
Invest in the Right Equipment
You might want to search for some used construction equipment that you can purchase if the trees are relatively large. Cutting the trees into smaller segments with a chainsaw will get the job done, but that’s going to be very time-consuming. With some heavy equipment, you’ll be able to rip the trees up without cutting them into smaller pieces. Heavy equipment will also allow you to dig up the roots, which will prevent saplings from popping up in the future.
Removing one or two dead trees shouldn’t be too exhausting, but it’s always a good idea to hire professional contractors if you have more than a couple trees to get rid or have issues performing the task on your own. An experienced crew will be able to bring in construction equipment that you might not have access to, and many companies offer free disposal services on larger projects.
Source: Brooke Chaplan/RISMedias Housecall
Published with permission from RISMedia.