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Porches are very popular, but a screened porch is a must-have for some because of bugs and weather that is more worrisome than before. Screened porches offer an outdoor sanctuary in an age of increasing concerns about pest-borne diseases, which is one of the reasons they have been increasing in popularity over the years.

They will provide protection against bugs, but also offer shade from the sun and shelter from the rain. Additionally, a screened porch will lower ground temperatures, saving on cooling costs in the summer. A screened porch will also reduce the sunlight that reaches adjacent interior rooms.

Lighting options are greatly increased as well. During the day, you can still rely on the sun, but at night, you can use recessed lighting, pendant lights or even a ceiling fan to give the room even more light and comfort.

Sellers or those who recently purchased a home might even consider building an entirely new porch if there is space available, say between the garage and house. But keep in mind that it doesn’t add to the home’s total square footage.

If you do decide to go this route, there are numerous options when deciding on the materials to build with. A quick look around the web will provide advice on designing the porch in three phases: flooring, exterior materials and interior trim. Everything from pressure-treated Yellow Southern Pine to vinyl and to up-cycled composites can be considered.

When getting started, know what you want in the look of your ceiling from the beginning. Flat ceilings can give a screened porch that interior room feel, whereas a vaulted or cathedral ceiling is spacious, allowing for better ventilation.

Also, think about doors carefully. Do you want one leading directly to the house, or do you want it to wrap around the side for easier entry from a pool or outside entertaining area? Aluminum doors are highly recommended because wood doors tend to warp over time.

While this might seem like a project you might want to tackle yourself, using a professional contractor is probably best, as they will know the zoning laws, can deal with any issues of wires that might pop up, and can create something in less time.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre like many people with an expansive wardrobe, you will agree with recently surveyed homebuyers that a walk-in closet”with perhaps a dressing area”is the second most important feature wanted in an upscale home.

Respondents to a National Association of REALTORS Buyers Home Feature Preference study ranked the extravagance just under air conditioning in terms of superior comfortable living”and 60 percent of them said they would spend the money to install the feature if the home they bought did not have one.

Installing the ultimate walk-in is easy to do without major upset, designers say, if your home has a spare bedroom adjacent to the master suite.

First, suggested one designer, be strategic. Take a good look at your clothing and accessories to determine the kind of space you need. Do you require a lengthy hanging space for full-length dresses, for example”or more than average space for shoes and purses? How much shelving will it take to hold your sweaters and folded shirts? How much drawer space for socks and underwear, and/or jewelry and accessories? And speaking of jewelry, do you want a wall safe built into your new walk-in closet?

Lighting is important. Whether you choose track lighting, recessed fixtures, or crystal chandeliers, you will want to be sure they provide enough ambient light to illuminate all the rooms contents.

Do you want a seating area? Having a room-sized closet means you also have space to add seating, so you can sit down if you wish. Plan for a comfortable armchair or chaise lounge you can sit on while you put on shoes, and/or a lighted vanity where you can sit to put on makeup or accessories.

Every good walk-in closet needs a full-length mirror”and depending upon the size of the room, a qualified custom closet designer will provide more ideas for turning your spare room into the walk-in closet you envision”beautifully finished and perfectly organized to maximize space and light.

From double-hanging rods and floor-to-ceiling shoe shelves to hanging or expanding wall pegs for belts, scarves or ties, there are other options a creative designer will suggest based on your needs and specifications. Whether you find your designer online or through a personal recommendation, be sure to review photos of his/her past designs and chat with two or three past clients about their room conversion experience.

That unused bedroom can provide much more than a little extra closet space. Done right, it can become a spacious wardrobe oasis.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Lets say youre about to host an open house or potential buyers are scheduled to visit your for-sale home. You go to open a door to a closet or bedroom and you discover the door is loose, or even off a hinge.

Dont despair, this is actually an easy fix that even the least handy of people can repair in just a few minutes, and heres how to do it.

The Tools for the Job:
All you need are a screwdriver (a powered screwdriver will make this chore a bit easier), screws, carpenters glue and wooden matches.

Remove the Screws:
If just one hinge plate is loose, you may be able to make the repair without taking the door down. Having someone hold the door in place for you as you make the repair will be a big help. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws from their base. They may be so loose that you can just pull them out without a tool. Also, consider buying new screws, theyre not expensive at all. Be sure to buy wood screws.

Fill the Hole:
Start by putting carpenters glue in the hole. Now heres where the wooden matches are put to use. Cut the tips off the matches, the part you strike to light them, and put one match in each screw hole. Break off the parts of the matches that stick out of the hole so that theyre flat. If you dont have wooden matches you can also use wooden toothpicks or a wood-filling product.

Put the Screws Back:
Position the door hinge in the correct spot and use the screwdriver to secure the screws. When youre done, tug on the hinge to make sure its secure. Then give it a final test by closing and opening the door to make sure its aligned.

And when people tour your home, theyll have no idea there was ever a problem with that door.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

When you replace a carpet in your home, whether it’s because you are trying to improve a room before selling or redecorating once you move in, it can be challenging.

Removing the carpet itself isn’t terribly problematic, and if you have some friends willing to help, it can be done pretty easily over the course of a day, but most times, you will see marks on your floor due to the glue that was used to keep the carpet in place.

Now, this doesn’t matter much if you are only going to install new carpeting; you can simply cover it up. But a lot of homeowners are choosing to go with the natural wood floors underneath, so those marks need to be removed.

Just by using a little elbow grease and following some basic DIY instructions, you can be enjoying a hardwoodfloorbefore you know it.

First, try to figure out what type of glue you are dealing with as not all glues are the same, and removing the different kinds can require different solutions and steps. For example, tar-based adhesives are dark brown or tan, while yellow-looking adhesives signify a carpet was glued down with a more general adhesive.

Next, visit your local hardware store and buy the appropriate removal material. Tar-based glues need mineral spirits to get the job done while general adhesives are best removed with some basic adhesive remover. Both require a good deal of that elbow grease we spoke about earlier.

Once you do, removing the glue is rather simple. Scrape off any spots you can, but don’t dig in too deep or you may damage the floor. Then add the adhesive remover, spreading it out evenly. Read the instructions carefully to ensure you keep it on for the correct amount of time. Also, since many of these can be toxic, be sure to wear gloves and keep the windows open to allow ventilation inside the room.

Always use a plastic putty knife to scrape the glue away as this won’t scratch or scuff the floor like a metal tool will. If the glue isn’t completely wiped away, follow the instructions again and add more remover to the spot. This time, use an old towel to wipe away the remaining glue.

Once all the glue is gone and the floor has dried, vacuum the area so no glue particles remain. Buy some floor cleaner and polish up the wood floor so it looks brand new, and enjoy.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If youre looking for a home and doing research on mortgages, you should have a complete list of your assets in order for a smooth transaction.

When applying for a mortgage, if you dont have a sound credit history or anything to show you have some net worth, chances are you may be denied or faced with an interest rate thats on the high end of the scale.

Common assets that mortgage lenders will want listed are stocks, bonds, mutual funds, 401k and retirement accounts, life insurance, cars, boats, antiques, jewelry and other real estate. When an asset is liquid, it has cash value or can be easily converted to cash. Liquidity is important in cases of financial emergency.

When a mortgage company looks at your worth and compares it to the down payment, closing costs and other money needed for the home transaction, it is making a decision that can impact the rest of your life, so you want to be sure you are honest and include everything.

The source of assets is also considered. For instance, if you list $100,000 in savings, but it was given to you by a parent or relative recently to beef up your account, that will raise a red flag. Who is to say that youre not going to give it back once the deal is signed?

Or maybe you took some money out of your retirement fund or took a loan against future income in order to pay off some debt. That too could have negative consequences, because mortgage lenders will know you will have less money in the future.

Any large deposit on your statement will raise an underwriters eyebrows and make you wonder if a borrower took out a loan that has yet to appear on a credit report.

Before applying for any mortgage, make sure to get your assets in order and have all documents to prove that everything is on the up and up. And if you dont think your assets are enough for your dream home, you may need to consider opting for a smaller home or waiting a little longer until everything comes together.

Published with permission from RISMedia.