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Home renovations can be expensive, especially if you want to make changes to several rooms or alter the floorplan. You probably want to keep the costs down as much as possible, but sometimes its better to spend more money to install items thatll last a long time, have a major impact on the overall appearance of a room, and help you attract a buyer and sell your home for a good price in the future.

Wood Flooring
Nothing beats the warm appeal of wood floors. While itll cost a lot more to install than other flooring materials, wood flooring can last decades. If the floor gets scratched or scuffed, youll be able to sand and refinish it to restore it to its original beauty. Wood floors can often be refinished several times, if necessary. If you decide to sell your house in the future, youll have no trouble attracting plenty of buyers who also recognize the advantages of wood flooring.

Appliances
You probably use appliances such as the stove, oven, refrigerator and dishwasher nearly every day, and the washer and dryer at least once or twice a week. Spending money for quality appliances is a good investment. You dont have to purchase the most expensive models, but you should read reviews to find out which brands tend to last the longest and compare prices and warranties.

Cabinets
If your family uses the kitchen to prepare meals each day, you most likely open and close the cabinets a lot, which can cause wear and tear that can detract from the appearance of the entire room. If youre going to replace the cabinets, it makes sense to pay more for quality. You dont need to go all out for top-of-the-line cabinets, but you can get ones made from strong wood at a reasonable price.

Countertops
Kitchen countertops can look beat up after years of daily use. If you cook a lot, its worth investing in durable countertops that wont scratch, chip or stain easily. You have many options when it comes to materials and colors. Visit a local home improvement store, and talk to an employee about how you use your kitchen so you can get advice on the best material.

Statement Lighting
A bold lighting fixture can be the focal point of a room. If youve cut corners in other areas to save money, allow yourself to splurge on a lighting fixture thatll add style and sophistication to the room.

Spend More for Quality
The cost to renovate a house, or even a single room, often gives homeowners sticker shock. Its understandable to want to save wherever you can, but sometimes splurging now on quality products thatll last, beautify your home and add to its value is the best move in the long run.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you are looking for a new home and have limited funds, a foreclosed property might be a bargain. Foreclosed homes are often sold below market price. If you find one in good condition, you may be able to get a lot more house than you would otherwise be able to afford, but you need to consider all potential expenses.

Dont Forget About Closing Costs
Closing costs are fees to process a mortgage, perform a title search and satisfy other requirements to transfer ownership of a property. They typically total about 2 to 5 percent of the sale price, depending on the location and the companies involved in each aspect of the process, and are usually paid by the buyer.

When purchasing a house, people sometimes dont think about closing costs or are surprised at how high the total figure turns out to be. Closing costs will still be required if you buy a house in foreclosure, but you might be able to lower or avoid them, depending on the circumstances.

Whats the Condition of the Property?
A vacant property is subject to neglect, vandalism and theft. Homeowners who are facing foreclosure have even been known to vandalize their own homes out of anger before being evicted.

A foreclosed property is sold as-is. A bank may pay for repairs to make a home inhabitable, but other problems are left for the new owner to handle. A bank selling a foreclosed property may not be aware of all problems and may not disclose problems even if it knows about them.

The Seller May Be Willing to Negotiate on Closing Costs
If a significant amount of time has passed since the lender foreclosed on the property, the company is probably eager to get the house off its hands. Every day that a property sits vacant, its condition can deteriorate, which can make it harder to sell. If the lender has struggled to find a buyer, it might be willing to pay some or all of the closing costs as an incentive for you to buy the property.

If the seller wont budge on closing costs, your mortgage lender might be willing to roll them into the total amount of your loan. That means youd have a higher monthly payment and possibly also a higher interest rate. If you are short on cash now, however, you might be willing to accept the greater long-term costs to buy the house you want, especially if youre getting it below market rate.

Get Professional Advice
Buying a house in foreclosure may be a smart move, depending on the amount of work the house needs and the cost. If you decide to purchase a house that has been on the market for a while, you may be able to negotiate an agreement with the seller to reduce or eliminate your closing costs. Discuss the specifics with your real estate agent, and ask for advice on how to proceed.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Maintaining your homes curb appeal shows more than pride of ownership; it shows respect for your neighbors. Plus, when or if you decide to sell, a well-maintained home means it will sell faster and likely for top dollar. Similarly, maintaining your homes interior is likely to pay off in the end.

Real estate experts shared these eight missteps that could cost you in the long run with House Beautiful Magazine:

Landscaping Without Thinking Ahead. Trees planted too close to the house or driveway without much thought about how big theyll get can cause major problems later, such as roots causing breaks in the pavement or interfering with sewer or water lines.

Letting the Entryway Languish. Unkempt shrubbery around the front entry, or a door that needs updating, makes people wonder what else has been let go inside.

Choosing Funky Paint Colors. Dont choose an exterior paint color that is too far afield of neighboring homes. And stay away from contrasting trim colors that distract, instead of attract, the eye.

Neglecting the Small Stuff. Watch out for dirty windows, torn screens or broken light fixtures that show a distinct lack of care.

Hanging on to Old Appliances. Pay attention to the age and quality of your kitchen appliances. A stovetop too old and scratched to be cleaned properly is a turnoff. Also, appliances that arent energy-savers are costing too much money to run.

Skipping a Deep Clean. Details matter when it comes to home care. Look out for dirt in the window tracks, dirty grout in the tile or badly stained carpets.

Thinking Too Small. A small bathroom will seem smaller when tiled with small tiles rather than with larger ones. Peruse decor magazines for ideas that help to open your space.

Neglecting Wood Floors. If you cant afford to refinish them, have them buffed every few years.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

As a homeowner, there are many things you need to be concerned with. One of the biggest is ensuring that you dont do anything that’ll decrease the overall value of your home. Rust can be a big enemy of homeowners, as it’ll cause areas of your property to break down easier and can cause your house to lose value due to its unsightliness and potential for costly damage.

Here are some helpful tips for preventing and getting rid of rust on your property:

Paint Your Pipes With Corrosion-Resistant Paints
Unless youve just built a newer home that uses plastic piping, its likely that you have metal piping running through your home. This type of piping is susceptible to corrosion, especially because it comes into constant contact with water. You can help prevent corrosion by simply applying a corrosion-resistant paint to the metal piping throughout your home.

Use a Rust-Resistant Cleaner for Irrigation Systems
Its very common to install water treatment systems for taking care of the normal watering of your lawn and garden. These systems will keep your water filtered and cleaned, but irrigation systems must be maintained properly to keep rust from getting into the irrigation pipes. The best way to prevent this from happening is to use a rust-resistant cleaner in your irrigation tank. You can find this at most hardware stores.

Use Corrosion-Resistant Gutter Materials
Gutters are another popular component of your home that are typically made of metal. Over time, this metal is exposed to water and other elements, which can lead to gutters rusting and actually draining rust-colored water. This can create a big mess that youll be responsible for cleaning up. To prevent this issue, utilize gutters that are corrosion resistant. Thisll ensure you dont have to worry about rust developing on your gutters and spreading to other areas of your home.

Scrub Off Existing Rust
When you first start to notice that rust is developing somewhere on your home, getting it scrubbed off should be a priority. The most common places you’ll find rust is in sinks and bathtubs. You should be able to easily remove the rust with a mixture of white vinegar or lemon juice and water. Youll need a scrub brush and some elbow grease to get it all off. A pumice stone can assist with particularly difficult areas. Once you get the rust off the area, check it for damage. If theres no rotting damage, then let it dry and cover the area with a corrosive-resistant paint to prevent future rust from forming.

Protecting the overall value of your home should be a top priority. While there are many things that can alter the value of your home, rust is a major one. By utilizing the tips laid out above, youll be able to prevent much of the potential rust buildup on your property.

Source: Brooke Chaplan/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Your dog may be your best friend, but your neighbors may view it differently. If someone complains about your dog, the worst thing you can do is get defensive. Thatll make your neighbor feel like you dont care, and an issue that you mightve been able to resolve amicably could escalate into an ongoing feud that could involve the authorities.

Listen and Gather Information
Even if you think your neighbor is exaggerating, take the complaint seriously. You may not fully understand your dogs behavior, especially if problems occur when youre away from home. Express empathy and ask questions. Talk to other neighbors and ask if theyve experienced problems with your dog so everyone will know that you sincerely want to understand and address the problem. Setting up a video camera outside your house can help you observe your dog while youre at work.

How to Address Problems
If your dog spends most of its time outdoors, it may be hungry, thirsty, hot, cold or lonely. The dog may bark when people walk by your house because its agitated or wants to play. You might be able to solve these problems by keeping your dog inside while youre at work and having someone stop by to take it for a walk, by confining your pet to the backyard, or by providing more food and water or better shelter. If your dog barks right after you leave for work, it could be experiencing separation anxiety. Making time for a morning walk could help your dog relax.

If your dog plays or relieves itself on a neighbors property, keep your pet on a leash whenever you take it out of your yard. If your dog jumps on the fence separating your property and your next-door neighbors, you may need to reinforce the fence or put up a second fence to keep your neighbors family safe.

If your dog is accused of attacking a neighbors family member or pet, find out the extent of the victims injuries and try to locate witnesses or surveillance video. If the police and/or animal control are called, cooperate fully. You may have to pay for medical or veterinary bills and take measures to keep others safe, or even get rid of your dog if its deemed too dangerous.

Follow the Law
Comply with all local laws related to dog ownership. If your dog isnt licensed and up to date on vaccinations, if you let it roam around unleashed, or if you dont clean up after it relieves itself, a neighbor could use those facts against you if he or she decided to file a complaint with local authorities.

Look for Solutions
Assume that a neighbors complaints about your dog are at least partially justified. Listen, take the matter seriously, gather more information, and search for a way to resolve the issue thatll keep everyone safe and help you maintain a positive relationship with your neighbor.

Published with permission from RISMedia.