Popular Home Colors in 2019

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Home Improvement, Homeowner.

One of the hardest parts of designing interiors is choosing the right colors that will define the space. And for moms, it’s particularly difficult because hubby is usually not much help with picking out colors. (You’d be amazed how many women have brought home paint samples and then complained that their husbands can’t tell the difference between four very distinct shades of blue or white. It all looks the same to them!)

When it comes to picking colors, everyone seems to have an opinion. Let’s look at some of the hottest colors of the year:

  1. Coral—According to Pantone, the official color of the year is living coral. Coral works well with more muted and understated tones. It may not be for everyone, especially in large doses. However, this bold color definitely catches your eye and invites you in. For those who don’t want to make such a bold choice, you can instead use this as a choice for the trim or an accent color with furniture or accessories. If you want something to brighten it up and give you a more optimistic feel, this is the color for you.
  2. Hunter Green—According to interior design influencer Becky Shea, hunter green is one of the top colors of the year. This is a great choice for those who don’t want shockingly bold colors and instead want something darker and more subdued and serious. According to Becky, one of the great things about this is how it “works beautifully with natural elements and neutral tones.” But this one is also a positive color because there is no feeling of gender definition. Hunter Green works well as a gender-neutral color for almost any room.
  3. Hazelnut—If you want something in a different vein from the previous two, you can’t go wrong with varying shades of hazelnut. This creamy color choice has been popular for years and probably won’t go out of style anytime soon. Hazelnut is homey and comforting and, depending on the shade you choose, can also seem to make smaller spaces feel larger. Another feature that makes hazelnut great is its ability to work with almost any furniture color palette. There’s no need to worry about buying a new living room suite to match the paint.

What’s important in choosing a color for your home is simply finding something that speaks to you. By doing this, you can find something that you will be happy and comfortable with for years to come.

 

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

When Should You Start Your Home Remodel?

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner, Remodeling.

Spring has always been a popular time to go on a major cleaning spree around the house. But what if you want to do more than just have a spring cleaning? When is the best time to do a major remodel of your home or property? Well, there is actually a system that can be followed.

Let’s look at the best season for each type of remodel so that you can make your plans for the coming year.

First Quarter (January to March)—Even though it can be numbingly cold during this time of year, the good news is that unless you live in a place that gets extreme snow, you will generally have good, solid ground that is relatively dry, as opposed to the spring when the rains come in.

Because of these conditions, it’s a good time to do additions on the house, such as a new sunroom or that man cave he’s always wanted. If you are adding a new room to the house, you can get the exterior work and frame done and then move on to doing the inside when the weather gets rainy in April.

This is also a good time to schedule a remodel because most construction companies don’t do a lot of work during this time. Since this is the “off season,” you can usually get a good deal from the company that is looking for some downtime work.

Second Quarter (April to June)—The weather is getting rainy and warmer, but this is also the #1 time of the year to build a new home. Because of this, construction companies and supplies will probably cost you a lot more. If you do want to do a spring remodel, consider a porch or patio since the ground will have thawed out enough to dig out the area.

Third Quarter (July to September)—The hottest time of the year means that your remodels need to move indoors to take advantage of your home’s air conditioning. Because of this, you will do well to complete an inside renovation such as a bathroom or kitchen remodel.

If you do need to do something outdoors, most construction companies will focus on roofing jobs because of the relatively dry weather and the higher temperatures which are needed to properly seal roofing tiles.

Fourth Quarter (October to December)—This is the right time for smaller remodel projects, like maybe a new shower or a minor tweak in your den or kitchen. Most people don’t want to completely tear out the whole house for a major renovation during the holidays, so construction companies are used to these types of smaller jobs.

There’s a perfect time for everything—from when to buy a new car to when to plant a flower garden. Remodels are no different and once you get the standard calendar down, you can begin to map out your renovations that will make the most sense for your home and budget.

 

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.

Top 10 Home Maintenance Tips for Winter

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

Winter is here and in some parts of the country the snow and ice have hit with a vengeance. Your home is taking the brunt of this assault in protecting you from the cold and elements.

In any climate, your house needs attentive maintenance; paying attention to those little issues and repairs will save you a lot of hassle and costly repairs later.

Here are the Top 10 winter maintenance tips for your home that you need to handle this season:

  1. Clean the gutters—Even if you don’t live somewhere with a lot of snow, you are still probably going to get increased rain this winter. Be sure to clean out your gutters early on so that the water does not get backed up and cause structural damage.
  2. Inspect the roof—While you are checking the gutters, also give the roof a good inspection. Look for any loose or missing roof tiles or shingles that could cause leaks during winter storms.
  3. Seal your doors and windows—If you want to save money on heating costs, be sure to apply/replace weather-stripping and sealant around all your doors and windows. This will help keep the cold air out and the hot air in.
  4. Check your pipes—The cold can bring on burst pipes, so this winter make sure to check all your pipes and wrap them with insulating tape. This will keep you from having to make costly plumbing repairs later.
  5. Prepare a winter emergency kit—You never know when bad weather will strike. Make sure that you have an emergency kit including candles and matches in case of a power failure. Also have a battery-powered radio, a supply of canned foods (and a manual can opener), and plenty of bottled water.
  6. Check the portable generator—If you own a portable generator, then you know that it can be a lifesaver during winter storms. Be sure to start it up and make sure that it is running smoothly and make any repairs that you may need. You don’t want to try to crank it up when a storm hits only to find out it’s not working.
  7. Trim your tree limbs—Winter storms can also bring external damage from falling trees and tree limbs. Walk through your property and clear out any limbs that are too close to the house or cars. Also, if you have older trees that may snap easily, you should consider having these removed before the storms take them out – and your house with them.
  8. Clean the chimney—If you have a fireplace, make sure that it is professionally cleaned to remove built-up soot and residue. This can be particularly dangerous to you and your family.
  9. Replace the smoke detectors’ batteries—About every three months, you should check your smoke detectors and replace the batteries so that they’re working properly.
  10. Reverse your fans—If you have a house with high ceilings, flip the directional switch on your ceiling fans. This will help to push warm air down and keep you warmer this winter.

If you take care of your house, then it will take good care of you. Be sure to complete these maintenance tasks early so that you don’t have to make major repairs later this winter.

 

Hot Decorating Tips For Your Home This Winter

Written by Marybeth Heckler on . Posted in Homeowner.

The holidays have passed but the temperatures are still dipping across the country and for many people snow has already declared the full arrival of winter. If you’re like me, you’ve put away the tree and holiday decorations; you may now be looking for something else to help spruce up your home for the season. If that’s the case, then look at these great decorating ideas for winter. These are guaranteed to keep you warm and cozy all season long.

Wreaths

Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas. Take down the red and green holiday garland and replace it with a wreath featuring pinecones and simple greens. If you want a little splash of something special, consider white flowers that are reminiscent of the snow piling up outside.

DIY Wooden Sign

It’s easy to create your own decorating style with a homemade wooden sign. Just get a reclaimed piece of wood with some paints and stencils and let your imagination go to town. Including an uplifting personal message or inspiration will help warm your heart this winter.

Sweater Pillows 

If you’ve had a bunch of old sweaters lying around that don’t fit anymore, there’s a great way to reuse them to decorate your home. By cutting the sweater material into pillows and then stuffing them, you can have decorative throw pillows for your sofa or bed that will be soft and comfy.

Faux Fur Blankets

One way to dress up your home in the winter and keep yourself warm at the same time is with faux fur blankets. These will add a nice country feel to your home and provide a lot more insulation than a blanket or afghan.

Coffee and Hot Chocolate Nook

If you have a little corner of your kitchen that you can use, create a nook for serving coffee, hot chocolate, or even hot cider. Be sure to include a Keurig or similar coffee maker with plenty of pods/cups to make your hot beverages.

Also stock up on all the accouterments, such as creamer, sugar, and mini-marshmallows for the cocoa. Finally, you can spruce this area up with a rustic sign for coffee or cocoa. This will go a long way to warm you up on cold winter mornings.

Winter Sporting Goods

If you live somewhere that winter sports are played—skiing, skating, hockey, sledding—then you can take some of the old sporting goods and use these for displays either in your home or on the front porch.

The winter is a great time to spruce things up and add some decorative touches to your home. By “bringing the outdoors in” this winter, you can provide a rustic look that will warm your heart and home.

 

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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.