Uncategorized

Before listing your home, improving curb appeal is a top priority. Luxury homebuyers want a turnkey residence that requires zero work before they move in and if your house is looking a little worse for wear from the street, they could be turned off before even stepping through the front door.

In order to get your home in tip-top shape, be prepared to show a little love to the exterior. Here are a few ways to add major curb appeal that will have potential buyers excited when they pull up to your property.

Landscape Design

Bringing in a professional landscape team to do their magic is always a good idea. Lush plantings and flower gardens, as well as neatly pruned hedges and trees, will instantly transform your front yard.

Stage the Front Porch

If you want prospective buyers to feel that the home is welcoming before they even get inside, staging the front porch is the way to do it. Potted plants and beautiful light fixtures will set the tone and, if space allows, a wooden bench or small seating area always feels inviting.

Tend the Exterior

Power washing the exterior and adding a fresh coat of paint or stain will have your home looking brand new in no time. Replacing the front door, or simply painting it a charming new color, can also do wonders. If your garage door is nothing special, upgrading it to a stylish, high-end model is another opportunity to set your home apart.

Welcoming Walkway

Dont make visitors trudge across your lawn. A thoughtfully designed stone or pebble path that meanders through your front yard is the perfect way to guide them from the curb to your porch.

Redo the Driveway

Often overlooked, a stately driveway can have prospective buyers impressed upon arrival. There are plenty of different options to explore depending on the style of your home, like cobblestone, pea gravel, or blue stone.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Break-ins occur every day across the U.S., resulting in property damage, theft and, in some cases, injuries. The unfortunate reality is that anyone can become a victim; however, studies have found that criminals are much less likely to target homes with security systems.

Reasons to Get a Home Security System
Installing a security system could give you peace of mind. You would know that your home was protected, whether you were there or not, and that the police would be alerted if someone tried to break in.

A security system could also save you money. If thieves broke into your home and stole valuables, your homeowners insurance policy would cover the losses, but you would still have to pay a deductible, which could be several hundred dollars or more. If a laptop that contained financial documents were stolen, the burglars could use the information to commit identity theft”or sell it to other criminals for that purpose. They could open fraudulent accounts in your name, wreck your credit and prevent you from obtaining loans or credit cards that you needed. Thieves might also steal items that could not be replaced, such as family heirlooms or photos that were stored digitally.

Installing a security system could even help you save money on your homeowners insurance. The system would make your house less likely to be the target of a break-in, and your insurance company might reward you by lowering your premiums; therefore, the security system could pay for itself in whole or in part.

Which Type of Security System Should You Install?
There are two main kinds of home security systems: wired and wireless. Earlier security systems were wired directly to a landline and the homes electrical system.Not only is a wired system difficult to hack, but it’s also hard to remove and reinstall somewhere else, so it typically stays with a house when it’s sold. If you installed a wired security system and decided to put your house on the market in the future, it could be an attractive selling point.

A wireless system could be installed quickly, probably without professional assistance. If you chose to install a wireless system, you would likely be able to control and monitor it using a smartphone, which means you could let trusted individuals, such as family members, into your house and be able to keep an eye on your kids if they got home while you were still at work. In addition, you could take the wireless system with you if you were to move in the future.

Make Security a Priority
Regardless of where you live and how safe you think your neighborhood is, the truth is that crime can happen anywhere. Protecting your home with a security system can give you peace of mind and help you and your family avoid the financial costs and psychological trauma of being the victims of a crime.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are a few reasons why a steam room or sauna should be your newest wellness investment…

Improved Cardiovascular Function

Regularly using a sauna has been linked to improving blood pressure and reducing long-term risk of cardiovascular disease.

Calm the Mind

A quick steam room or sauna session helps you to relax and leaves you in a better mood.

Post-Workout Recovery

Steam rooms in particular are a chosen method among athletes to relieve muscle soreness and recover more quickly.

Relieve Cold Symptoms

Heat therapy can help boost the immune system, as well as relieve cold symptoms by clearing the sinuses and breaking up congestion in the lungs.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

There are myriad advantages to adding houseplants to your home. For starters, many different types can help to purify the air and provide a healthier living space. Visual appeal is an added bonus that can make any room feel livelier by bringing the outdoors inside.

Here are a few popular houseplants that are easy to maintain and will add a creative design element.

Ficus Audrey (ficus benghalensis)

A natural statement piece with its large, velvety leaves, the ficus Audrey is having a moment among houseplant enthusiasts. If you want a plant that requires minimal care and a minimalist look, this is the one for you.

Chinese Evergreen (aglaonema modestum)

Named among the top air-filtering houseplants by NASA, the Chinese evergreen is visually stunning with its pink and green leaves. Even if you dont have the greenest of thumbs, theyre quite resilient and can survive with indirect sunlight.

Rattlesnake Plant (calathea lancifolia)

If you enjoy bold patterns and vibrant colors, the rattlesnake plant will make the perfect addition to your home with its bright green and purple leaves. Theyre low maintenance, dont require direct sunlight, and will freshen up any room with a tropical feel.

Bunny Ear Cactus (opuntia microdasys)

Native to northern Mexico, the bunny ear cactus adds instant visual drama. Named for the two pads that are shaped like rabbit ears, it will sprout flowers in the summertime and is incredibly easy to keep alive as long as your home is not too humid. Whether you have a modern or minimalist look, cacti are an easy way to spruce up your homes design.

Fiddle Leaf Fig (ficus lyrata)

Theres no denying the fiddle leaf fig is among the trendiest of houseplants and its easy to see why. Those lush leaves add a bit of flair to your homes aesthetic and its the ideal size to fill unused space without feeling overbearing. Plus, these stylish trees improve the air quality, so you can breathe easy.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.