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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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When it comes to interior design, it’s easy to get caught up in trends. Here are four timeless pieces that will be just as stylish years from now as they are today.

Windsor Chair

For a country cottage style, the Windsor chair is a perfect addition to any dining room. Pair this piece with almost any style of table, lavish or quaint, for a classic look.

Oriental Rug

Oriental rugs are one of the most classic pieces you can add to your home. These colorful and authentic rugs exude timelessness and can help pull a color scheme together.

Tufted Headboard

Create a cozy bedroom and add a level of classic sophistication with a tufted headboard that can conform to any design style you choose.

Leather Club Chair

If you’re looking to add some comfort and inspire relaxation and elegance in your workspace, a leather club chair might be the choice for you.

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Many people struggle to come up with tens of thousands of dollars for a down payment on a house. Permanent life insurance covers a policyholder for life, as long as premiums are paid on time. The more paid in premiums, the more cash value accumulates.

If you have a whole life, variable life or universal life insurance policy with a substantial cash value, you can access money through a loan, partial surrender (withdrawal), or full surrender and use it for a down payment to buy a house. Youll have to choose how to access funds based on whether you want to repay the money and whether you need to provide death benefits to your beneficiaries.

Loan
Life insurance companies often limit the percentage of a policys cash value that can be taken as a loan. If you borrow money from your insurance policy, itll still have some cash value and remain in effect.

The loan will have interest, but you can take as much or as little time as you want to pay it back. The amount of your death benefit will be reduced by the value of the loan. If you want to leave money to your loved ones after you are gone, you should repay the loan as quickly as possible to make sure your beneficiaries still receive death benefits.

You wont have to pay taxes on a loan from an insurance policy if the policy remains in force. If you surrender the policy or cant afford the premiums and interest, and the amount of the loan is greater than the amount of the premiums you paid, you may be taxed.

Withdrawal
If you take a withdrawal, youll partially surrender your life insurance policy. The amount of your death benefit will be reduced by the amount of the withdrawal. The insurance company will probably require you to keep at least a small percentage of cash value in the policy. You may have to pay surrender fees in the early years of the policy. If you withdraw more than you have paid in premiums, youll have to pay taxes.

Full Surrender
If you want to withdraw all your life insurance policys cash value and you dont need to leave insurance for your family after your death, you can choose a full surrender. You may have to pay surrender charges, plus taxes if the cash value of the policy is higher than the amount you paid in premiums.

Should You Use Life Insurance to Buy a House?
If you have a permanent life insurance policy, you may be able to use the cash value youve built up to achieve your dream of homeownership. Talk to your insurance agent or financial planner to make sure you understand the potential benefits, costs and risks.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.