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According to a recent HomeAdvisor research report, Americans spent on average $564-$2,260 to install a home automation system, with prices ranging as high as $15,000 to install a hard-wired system. While outfitting your home with a full suite of smart home technology can be pricey and intimidating, there are some smaller ways you can start to incorporate this all-the-rage trend into your abode.

Smart home automation deals with syncing household devices and systems with schedules or responsive sensors, says HomeAdvisor, which means that smart home technology is dependent upon smartphone apps and wireless internet routers. The goal is to save on costs, and add convenience and security throughout your home.

A good place to start is with your thermostat. A variety of smart thermostats are available, allowing you to automate and control your homes temperature from your smartphone. Some, like Nest, learn your habits throughout the day and set the temperature accordingly.

You might also want to consider a smart television. An evolution of the Roku and Apple TV external devices, smart televisions have integrated everything you could ever want right into your set – Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, HBO Go, Pandora, network TV, gaming and much more.

Another great feature to consider is smart shades or blinds. These programmable, remote-controlled window coverings allow you to schedule open-and-close times in conjunction with the rooms exposure, putting you in control of energy saving and setting the mood.

Speaking of setting the mood, a whole host of smart light dimmers give you the option to control the lights in your home from your smartphone. This is an especially useful security feature while youre away from your home for extended periods of time.

Another great security option is smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors”this technology alerts you to not only what the problem is but within which part of your home its happening.

While the smart home technology options are endless and fascinating, keep in mind that they are internet dependent, so if your home goes offline, so will your devices.

Like this update? As your local real estate professional, I can provide more great tips like this and answer any real estate information questions you may have. Contact me today!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Before choosing a real estate agent, take these characteristics into consideration…

Track Record

Your agent should have a proven record that meets your needs.

Digital Presence

Agents must show their online strategy for reaching targeted buyers so that sellers gets results.

Network

A successful agent is plugged into the market on local and global levels.

Communication and Service

Agents should save time, demonstrate integrity and respect your privacy while providing personalized service.

Staging and Design

Whether hosting an event to attract buyers or staging for photography, an agents job is to beautify your home.

Market Insight

Your agent needs to have a pulse on the local market and keep you informed of all activity.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Most people expect to pay off their mortgage and live in their house during retirement. Unfortunately, life doesnt always go according to plan. If a homeowner dies before paying off the mortgage, it could have implications for the estate and the persons heirs. Discussing the future and preparing for that possibility can make the transition easier on family members.

Who Is Responsible for Mortgage Payments After the Borrowers Death?
After a homeowner dies, the loan still needs to be repaid. Heirs who were not party to the mortgage are not financially responsible for making payments, but those payments will still need to be made in one way or another to avoid having the house go into foreclosure.

If the homeowner has a surviving spouse who co-signed the mortgage, he or she becomes responsible for payments. Another individual who co-signed the loan will be responsible for making payments, regardless of whether that person has an ownership stake in the house.

If there is no co-signer, other family members can choose to take responsibility for the mortgage and refinance the loan to get better terms. If they’re unable or unwilling to take on the mortgage, the executor can use funds from the estate to pay off the loan, or the house can be sold.

If the house sells for more than the amount owed on the mortgage, the balance can be used to pay off debts or can be passed on to heirs. If the house is worth less than the amount owed, the executor may negotiate a short sale or allow the house to go into foreclosure. If the owner had a reverse mortgage, the loan will need to be paid off after all borrowers have died or moved out of the house. If family members pay off the loan, they can keep the house.

Estate Planning Options
If possible, the homeowner can set aside money in a savings account or another financial instrument that family members can access after his or her death. That will help them continue to make mortgage and tax payments until they decide whether to keep or sell the house.

Life insurance can provide funds that can be used to pay off a mortgage in the event of the homeowners death. That can allow heirs to stay in the house debt-free or to move out and start over.

In some cases, it might make sense to put the house in a trust or an LLC or to add relatives names to the title to avoid the time and expense of going through probate. It’s important to discuss the legal and tax implications with an attorney and an accountant.

Talk to Your Family
Death is inevitable. The better family members plan for it, the smoother the transition will be for surviving relatives. Whether you own a home or a loved one does, have an honest discussion and seek advice from professionals so you can make the best decisions as a family.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Becoming a homeowner doesn’t equip you with the basics of household know-how, although time and experience will likely teach you how to tighten up a leaky faucet. But technicians say that up to 30 percent of their service calls require nothing more than the flip of a switch or the push of a button to ‘repair’ the stated problem.

To save you from such an embarrassing experience”not to mention the cost of a service call”Readers Digest offers tips to help every homeowner recognize and ‘fix’ common issues:

The fridge is warm. Check to see that nobody messed with the temperature dial. Turn it up if need be, and be sure no food containers are blocking the fridge and freezer compartment vents, which supply the flow ofcold air.

The bathroom lights don’t work. Sometimes all the bathroom outlets or several exterior lights are powered through a single GFCI (the red button in the middle of some outlets located in one bathroom). If there’s an outage, push the reset button on the GFCI, and you could be back in business.

A kitchen appliance won’t turn on. When a light goes out in one room or a switch doesn’t turn on the coffeepot, check the main electrical panel for a tripped circuit breaker. Look for a switch that’s not in line with the others. Flip it fully to the off position, and then back on.

The toilet is running. The most common cause is a worn flapper that no longer seals properly. The flapper is easy to replace without calling a plumber. Your nearest home store can sell you the part and tell you what you need to know.

The paint needs a touchup. Mimic the texture a paint roller leaves on the wall without calling the painter. Dip an old washcloth in the paint, dab it on the spot, and toss it away.

The garage is stuffed. Before you call a carpenter to add more shelving, mount a section of wire shelving to the undersides of the beams to give you a row of neat storage nooks. Unlike solid shelving, wire lets you see what’s up there. Then pick up a pack of S-hooks at a home center, and turn a length of wire shelving intoa rack for holding garden and/or cleaning gear.

Interested in more home improvement tips? Feel free to contact me directly.

Published with permission from RISMedia.