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More space is one of the must-haves of just about everyone looking for a home, but if you happen to have a home on the market that has tiny rooms, it doesn’t mean there won’t be any interest in the property. It just means you may have to do some things to jazz it up.

A small room doesn’t necessarily translate into an uninteresting room, and there are numerous design tricks you can take advantage of to make it more eye-catching, starting with clearing it out as best you can so clutter doesn’t get in the way.

It’s a good idea to create a singular focal point in the room, such as adding a colorful pattern to the bed in a bedroom, setting a dining room table as if you’re having a lavish dinner party or adding a comfortable chair in the living room. The idea is not to have too much furniture around these items so they appear larger than they are. Having one large painting as opposed to several on the walls is also better for aesthetics.

Light will enhance a room and can make it appear larger than it really is. This doesn’t mean, however, that you want to add a bulky lamp that takes up too much space. The less items clamoring for attention, the better.

Use light and bright colors throughout the house. Icy blues and cream colors are lauded as the best color combinations that can really make a tiny room seem bigger. Conversely, heavy, dark colors absorb light and can make a small space seem even smaller. It’s all about illusion. Light and brightly colored walls are more reflective, making a space feel open and airy.

Consider adding mirrors or glass to a room to also help with size, as they give an impression that a room is larger than it really is.

When it comes to a small kitchen, keep things organized in cabinets and not laying around on the counters. Smaller chairs or stools are also better, as is a round table instead of a square one.

A small space doesn’t have to mean less interest. With the right design, furniture and color usage, a small room can leave a big impression.

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Here are a few tips for the ultimate staycation…

Call the Cleaners

Have a cleaning service do an extra deep clean so your home practically feels like a hotel.

Pamper Yourself

Pick a few products to upgrade around the house, like luxurious bath salts or fine linens for your bed.

Make Reservations

Book yourself a day at the spa, make a special dinner reservation or buy tickets to a show.

Stock Up on Your Favorite Foods

Everyone eats well when they go on vacation, so its perfectly fine to indulge in your favorite gourmet items and sweets.

Family Activities

Plan out a few activities that the whole family will enjoy, like apple picking or taking a day trip to a nearby attraction.

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If you have a small bathroom and/or a large family, storage space is at a premium. Without a solid organizational system, a bathroom can quickly become cluttered. Items that belong in the bathroom may get shoved into other closets, which can make finding things a hassle. Here are some tips to help you make the most of the available space in your bathroom and find more room for storage:

Keep Toilet Paper and Towels Within Reach
A wheeled cart can provide much-needed storage space, especially if it has two or three shelves. Use one or two to keep toilet paper and towels close by, and store some frequently used toiletries on top.

Another option is to find an attractive basket that will fit on top of the toilet and fill it with extra rolls of toilet paper. You can also roll up or fold towels and place them in baskets under the sink if you dont have a vanity.

Take Advantage of Empty Wall Space
If you have some unoccupied space on a wall, make the most of it by hanging shelves. Stack a few shelves, and keep items you frequently use easily accessible and things you use less often higher but still within reach. You can also mount decorative baskets on the walls to store extra toiletries.

Utilize Available Space Under the Sink
If your bathroom has a vanity under the sink, you can place storage caddies there to keep things organized in an awkwardly shaped space. If your sink doesnt have a vanity, the area under the sink can be an ideal spot to place a stack of drawers. They can be used for towels, toiletries and hair-styling tools to keep everything within easy reach but out of the way.

Organize Makeup So Items Are Easy to Find
If you own a large assortment of makeup and have trouble finding the eyeliner or lipstick you want, organize everything on a Lazy Susan. That will make it simple to find what you need on a busy morning and keep your makeup from cluttering drawers.

Create More Storage Space in the Shower
If you dont have enough room for shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower, you can make more storage space by mounting a rod next to a wall in the shower. Hang one or more storage caddies to keep things organized and easily accessible.

Hide Items From View
If your bathroom has a medicine cabinet or full-length mirror with a door that opens outward, use the area behind it to your advantage. Install some shelves to create hidden storage space.

Explore New Ways to Use Limited Space
A cluttered and disorganized bathroom can make hectic mornings even more stressful and lead to conflicts between family members. If youre struggling to keep your bathroom organized, try some of these simple, inexpensive and effective strategies to create more storage space.

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A homes roof is its most important feature, and for good reason. If the roof leaks or is damaged in some way, it can lead to a host of problems ” and insurance claims.

Many home insurance companies limit how they insure roofs, so its worthwhile before buying home insurance to know how your roof will be covered. Here are some of the ways a roof can be covered by insurance:

Old roof may need to be replaced

Some insurers wont renew an existing policy or issue a new one on a home with a roof thats 20 years old or older unless it passes an inspection.

Even if they do, they may only pay actual cash value for the older roof if its damaged, meaning theyll only pay for what the roof is worth at the time of the claim and not for the cost to fully replace it.

Are leaks and damage covered?

Some types of roof damage are covered by most home insurance policies: fire, vandalism, hurricanes and tornadoes. Others, such as wind, rain or hail may only be covered based on the age of the roof, or not at all.

For example, a leak on a roof thats 10 years old may be fully covered. But a roof thats 20 years old may only be covered for a leak for the value of the roof after 20 years of wear and tear.

If proper maintenance wasnt done to stop a leaky roof, then only partial reimbursement or none at all may be provided.

Coverage limitations

Other than an old roof, insurers may also limit coverage for such things as having a wood shake roof. A wood shake roof or wood shingle roof may require adding an endorsement to the policy, which is a written document attached to an insurance policy that excludes or restricts coverage of those wood features. Only the actual cash value of a wood shake roof, for example, might be covered.

Insurers may also want proof that there wasnt pre-existing damage before insurance coverage begins.

This can be assessed by a roof inspector who can give you a written report on the condition of the roof. It can include a cost estimate of repairs.

Cosmetic roof exclusions may also be included in an insurance policy. For example, a metal roof thats damaged by hail that causes dings in the roof may not be covered because its considered cosmetic and doesnt harm the durability of the roof.

For more real estate information, feel free to contact me.

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