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Here are several home features that every pet owner can benefit from.

Proper Floors and Fabrics

Choose a hardwood thats particularly durable and resistant to scratches, such as ipe or cumaru, paired with performance rugs.

Pet Camera

Installing a pet camera allows you to keep a watchful eye on your pets at all times.

Pet-Washing Station

Easily keep your pets fresh and clean with a well-designed area that includes a handheld shower sprayer, tile floors and proper drainage.

Air Purification

Installing an air purification system that helps to remove smell, as well as dander, can make a huge difference.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Whens the last time you paid attention to your lights, switches and fixtures?

They may seem like little things, but when selling a home, everything counts, so putting some thought into your homes lighting can go a long way toward sprucing up your home without emptying your wallet.

Here are some easy things that you can do:

Install new bulbs. This is an affordable way to set the right mood in rooms throughout your home. New bulbs also mean they wont burn out while potential buyers look over your home.

Choose the right bulbs for each room. Bright lighting in the kitchen and softer lights in the living room, for example. If you have a ceiling fan with more than one bulb, avoid high-wattage bulbs, and install those of equal wattage.

Replace outlet covers. This is another economically-friendly step that can make a difference. Pick the right colors for each room, and make sure plates match. Another advantage to doing this”youll make sure all outlet covers are tightly screwed on and secure. Be sure to take any necessary safety precautions before changing any plates.

Dust and clean. Lighting on the ceiling can collect dust, especially on globes that cover bulbs, exposed bulbs or chandeliers. Built-up dust in these areas is unsightly, so take a few minutes to dust these. Be sure to do it in the afternoon while the lights arent on and hot to the touch. Then, take a look at the covers of your light switches. Hands are all over these, so theres a good chance theyre marked by fingerprints or food stains. Clean these with a window cleaner; use very little cleaner and be careful because you dont want liquid getting into the switch area.

Check your switches. A lot of houses have switches that just dont work or are backward, turning lights off when in the up position and vice-versa. These are little things, but any imperfection can be a distraction to visitors. It may well be worth the time and expense to hire an electrician to repair or replace any broken switches or outlets that dont function properly.

Remember exterior lights. Outdoor lights are also important. If people visit the house at night, you want walkways to be well lit, and if outdoor lights arent working because of burned-out bulbs, it could be a sign that other areas of the house are being ignored.

Taking these steps can help you sell your home faster.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

What is a comfort letter, and why might you need to submit one?

The mortgage process when purchasing a home can be tricky. There’s a ton of paperwork to read through and sign”so much that your hand might cramp up from the vast amounts of signatures required. But don’t worry if your mortgage lender requests that you write a “comfort” letter”it’s just a statement clarifying your financials so the lender can get you to the closing table with minimized risk.

As to what the mortgage lender might want to clarify, it could be a number of things:

Employment Lapses
Is there a period of time in which you werent working recently? The lender may ask you about this lapse to ensure youre still a stable loan candidate and financially comfortable with paying back the loan once you close on the home. You may have worked freelance during this time, in which case the lender may ask for proof of income.

Large Bank Deposits
Did you recently come into a large sum of money? If you deposited it into your bank account, your mortgage lender may ask you where that money came from and what you plan to use it for. There are strict rules about using gifted funds toward the purchase of a home, and your lender will want to confirm it’s not a loan given to you by friends or family that you’ll need to pay back.

New Job Status
Are you switching jobs in the middle of the loan application? If there’s a change in income, this could add another layer of questioning. Your lender may want you to state how much youll be making at the new job, as anything less than your current income is going to change how much you can afford. The lender may also want to know where the job is located”if it’s further away from where you live, will you be commuting or working remotely? The lender just wants to ensure youre a legitimately viable loan candidate.

A comfort letter is a way for your mortgage lender to cover its bases. If youre completely open about your financial history when applying for the loan, you have nothing to worry about. So, don’t panic. Just provide the requested information in a timely fashion, and you should be good to go.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Here are five interior design styles millennials love.

Warm Minimalism

Warm up millennial minimalism with earth tones, natural textures and handmade objects.

Maximalism

On the other end of the spectrum is maximalism. Love collecting items from different places, time periods and design movements? Maximalism is for you!

Grandmillennial

Some millennials prefer to decorate with an eclectic mix of antique objects, needlepoint pillows and chintz fabrics the way their grandmothers used to.

Transitional

Walking the line between traditional and contemporary, transitional style holds widespread appeal with millennials.

Memphis Movement

The Memphis Movement of the 1980s has influenced current tastes with the popular shade of millennial pink and the resurgence of terrazzo surfaces and graphic patterns.

Published with permission from RISMedia.