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Houses traditionally had a kitchen where food was prepared and a separate dining room where family members would gather to share meals. Home designs have changed over the years, and nowadays many houses have a kitchen with space where family members can sit to eat.

Whats Important to Your Family?
Eat-in kitchens are typically designed for small or average-sized families. Theyre convenient since everyone has easy access to food and dishes near the eating area. This can be particularly important when parents and kids are rushing to eat breakfast so they can get to work and school on time.

Dining rooms are typically used for larger or more formal gatherings. Depending on the age and layout of a particular house, a dining room may have seating for anywhere from six people to a dozen or more. If you have a large family or frequently have guests over for dinner, a separate dining room may be a necessity.

Although a dining room is typically located close to the kitchen, it can still be a hassle to carry food and dishes back and forth when serving a large group. On the other hand, some people find it hard to enjoy a meal when they can see dirty pots and pans and feel as though they must finish their meal quickly to clean up. Eating in a separate dining room can therefore be more relaxing.

Sometimes people buy a home with a space that is intended to serve as a dining room, but they choose not to use it that way. If you would rather use a room as a home office or for some other purpose, thats fine. Just make sure that everyone is clear about the rooms intended function, so it doesnt wind up filled with toys or junk mail.

Thinking About Remodeling?
If you already own a home and youre thinking about renovating, consider how you eat meals, the number of people who are typically present, how much space you have and the advantages and disadvantages of your current arrangement. If you would like more space or would prefer not to have to look at a mess while eating, or if you plan to expand your family in the future, it might make sense to remodel your home to create a separate dining room.

Which House Design is Right for Your Family?
If youre looking for a new home, think about how your family members usually eat meals. If you prefer to keep things simple and have a relatively small family, an eat-in kitchen may work fine. On the other hand, if you have a large family or like to entertain, you might appreciate having a separate dining room, even if you only used it occasionally. Discuss the pros and cons of each with your family and your real estate agent.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Have you found yourself falling out of love with the home you once adored? You aren’t alone. Take millennial homeowners, for example. A recent Bankrate poll found that 63 percent of this vital demographic regret purchasing their current home. That’s an alarming number, but one that accurately shows how easy it is to fall out of love with a home.

Luckily, there are more options other than just cutting your losses and selling your house. By renovating the space, you can make the changes required to better fit your lifestyle. Here are five renovations that will make your home feel new again:

Install a Walk-In Shower
Replacing your old shower or tub with a walk-in shower adds an attractive spa element to your home. Go one step further and add an S-shaped bench, which will make the space feel even more like a spa. Walk-in showers are great for aging people, as well, because it’s easy to navigate the entrance to the shower. Additionally, you’ll also have no glass door that needs to constantly be cleaned.

Install Laundry Chutes
There’s no doubt that it’s a pain hauling laundry up and down the stairs every time laundry day rolls around. While carrying heavy laundry baskets down to the laundry room isn’t an enjoyable hobby, adding laundry chutes in the master bedroom, kids’ bedrooms and/or select closets will allow you to cut down on messy piles of laundry, as well as annoying trips up and down the stairs.

Build a She Shed
Is there extra room on your property that’s being underutilized? If so, a she shed is a wonderful way to utilize the space. She sheds can be built relatively inexpensively and used in various ways, from a place for a guest to stay during a visit to a sanctuary where you can escape when you need some alone time.

Make Room for a Second Dishwasher
By clearing space for a second dishwasher, you’ll likely lose some cabinet space; however, the convenience of being able to load one dishwasher while the other is working its way through the cleaning cycle will ultimately save you much-needed time. If your kitchen space is already limited, this may not be a viable option, but there are some brands that make double drawer dishwashers that can save you some time without taking up extra space.

Add a Kitchen Island
By adding a kitchen island, you’ll give yourself bonus counter space and seating. Consider adding an additional sink, mini fridge or even a wine bar to the space, as well. You can even build a wine rack on one end of the island so that you can store a variety of wines without losing space.

With these five renovation projects, you’ll find yourself falling in love again with your home. Additionally, you could add value to your home for when the time comes to sell!

Source: AnnaBeth Rouse/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Deciding to sell your home can be a monumental life decision, and its one that shouldnt be made without plenty of thought. Of course, there are plenty of reasons that drive you to the decision. You may be offered a new job out of town, your kids may have left the nest and theres just too much room, or maybe youre just looking for a life change.

But before pulling the trigger and putting your house on the market, here are some questions you should contemplate.

Do I really want to move? Remember, this is a big decision and one that you cant really reverse, so ask yourself what youre really looking for.. You may be bored with your life and looking for a major change, but moving may not be the answer. Make a list of the reasons why and consider the pros and cons of a change. Make sure you really think about what moving means and how it will affect your life going forward.

Is a move necessary? Are you being relocated by a job? Have you met the man or woman of your dreams on the other coast? Can you no longer afford to make your mortgage payments? These are all valid reasons, but be sure to consider all the possibilities. For instance, has the business seen a lot of turnover, which means you might not be happy there? Have you ever spent time with this soul mate outside of the honeymoon phase? And if it is financially based, have you looked into refinancing? There may be better options other than selling, such as renting.

Should I rent? Maybe you arent completely convinced that moving is what you want to do. If this is the case, consider renting out your home for a year so you can continue to pay the mortgage and see where your life takes you over the next 12 months. You might decide that you miss the neighborhood and the closeness to the city or suburbs, and youll want to go back”which you can do in this scenario.

Is now a savvy time to move? Make sure to research the housing market in your area and check to see what houses have been selling for and compare comps to previous months. Maybe time isnt so much an issue for you and you can afford to wait if the market isnt to your liking.

Make sure you have all the answers you need before making this decision, and if you decide to go through with it, contact me for advice on how to successfully get your home ready for a sale.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Getting rid of things you no longer need is a vital step in the moving process because it serves two purposes. First, it’s a key component of home staging because too much stuff can make a room look unorganized and cramped. Second, it makes moving easier”who wants to move a bunch of things they actually don’t need?

But throwing out items that could be put to good use by someone is a waste, and the best solution is often to donate unwanted things to charities and organizations. Goodwill, the Salvation Army and your local church are certain to welcome much of your stuff, but here are some other ideas for places to donate your belongings.

Furniture: You may have sofas, chairs or tables that don’t fit the decor of your new home, or maybe you’re downsizing. Your local senior center may be looking for furniture, either for the center or to give to older people in your community. Women’s shelters are another terrific option, as are organizations that help the homeless find places to live independently.

Clothes: Dress for Success is a terrific non-profit that provides clothing for low-income women to wear during job interviews, allowing them to make a good first impression during the job search. It has branches throughout the country and if there isn’t one by you, there may be something similar. Also, look for schools and organizations that host clothing drives.

Kitchen Appliances: There’s an excellent chance that your kitchen is home to a few gadgets you haven’t used in years, or maybe you have multiple toasters, mixers or blenders. In addition to the usual outlets, your local school or community college may be looking for appliances to use in their classrooms. Many organizations also operate thrift stores where they sell donated items in support of their cause.

Books, CDs and DVDs: These are things that aren’t going to make you much money if you sell them, especially CDs and DVDs, which are declining in popularity in the age of streaming. (However, vinyl is growing in popularity, so your old record collection may fetch a few dollars.) Your local library is sure to appreciate the donation. Senior centers also can make good of these and kids’ books and DVDs can go to a local shelter.

Now you’ve decluttered and provided things to people who need them. What could be better than that?

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Selling a home can be an all-consuming process. It means cleaning, decluttering, staging and preparing for tours and open houses.

But that shouldnt keep you from enjoying yourself, and its especially important for families to not let the selling process get in the way of quality family time. Thankfully, there are all kinds of activities families can do together.

Go Out to Dinner:
If youre moving away from a neighborhood youve lived in a while, enjoy a meal at one of your favorite local dining spots. Pick a special place and splurge a bit”order appetizers, desserts, and let your kids have fun ordering what they want.

A Day in the Park:
If you have younger kids, take them to their favorite park for a few last visits. Make a day of it by spending time at the playground, followed by a hike and maybe even a picnic.

Go to a Museum:
Enjoy a day of culture at a museum. There are beautiful paintings and sculpture to see at art museums, or there may be historical societies and institutions that share the story of your neighborhood.

Try Something Different:
There are probably all sorts of things to do in your area that youve never gotten around to. Maybe theres a theater that presents plays and concerts or a local orchestra that makes wonderful music. Escape rooms are a growing trend and make for a great way to escape from the stress that comes with selling a home.

Get Active:
Combine your family outing with some physical fitness. Go bowling or take your swings at a batting cage. If your family golfs, play a round together at your favorite course. If youre a member of the local YMCA, you could also play a friendly family game of basketball.

Be a Good Sport:
If you root for your local teams, visit the football stadium, basketball arena, or baseball park one last time. Youll create special memories as you enjoy the excitement, and be sure to buy some souvenirs as a memento of your time in this area.

Family is always a priority, so its important to not let selling a house and moving get in the way of spending quality time with your loved ones.

Published with permission from RISMedia.