Sandra Meranda

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Your Home No Longer Meets Your Needs: Now What?

These days, many families find themselves in a position where their current home simply doesn’t meet their needs, currently or their future needs. Maybe there aren’t enough bedrooms or bathrooms. Maybe it’s the kitchen that’s too small and hopelessly outdated. Your layout may not fit your personal style. Your home may be no longer be as desirable as it once was.

If you do find yourself in this situation, what’s your next move? Well, you have three options:

  • remodel your current home
  • move to a home in a new neighborhood that better suits your needs
  • design and build a new home

Each option has its own set of pros and cons and your family must consider all of them and their nuances before making such an important decision. The accompanying infographic, Renovate, Move or Build a New Home?, offers a brief list of factors to consider before choosing. Things to consider include your budget, emotional ties to your neighborhood and home, the current real estate market, your tolerance of inconvenience, the amount of available free time, and more.

It all comes down to a balancing act. You must weigh your desire for what you want against your ability to pay for it. A serious consideration of the infographic’s reasons for choosing one
option over the other will help you decide which way to go in pursuit of your dream home. Check it out — the advice is sure to help you hit a home run!

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Get Top Price for Your Home By Decorating It to Sell

Decorating your home may be a great way to show your taste and standard, but another use of home décor is to add detail and make it look trendy enough to be able to ask a higher price for your home.

The following are amazingly clever, but easy ways to get a better financial return for your house should you decide to sell it:

  1. Replace out of date tiles or use marble
    When planning to sell a home that’s been around for some years, replacing worn-out tiles or changing it to marble floors in your kitchen can give it a huge upgrade to a more elegant and expensive look. Even just using it sparingly on a spot like the baking area, is enough to transform that part of the floor.

 

  1. Pick a harmonious Color Scheme
    Pick a color that can tie everything together. Transform any room by giving it a new splash of color. Use creams and beiges to make it look more extravagant. Light colors can make a room feel larger than it is. If you prefer to use dark color themes, then go for greys and black. Using textured wallpaper can also help you achieve that classy makeover on a small budget.
    Choosing rugs and curtains that go well together, can also help you get cohesion that subconsciously signals harmony and luxury.

 

  1. Lighting
    Lighting is a great way to add atmosphere and improve the look of your home. Choose a focal point in the room and install a dimmer to create a luxurious atmosphere. Remove any furniture that may be blocking the natural light from coming in. Add lamps in dark spaces. You may have an expensive home, but if you can’t see the beauty of it, then the beauty will go unnoticed.

    Try to get light fixtures that are not the cheapest or from the nearest IKEA, so you won’t have one that looks the same in a nearby house. Remember, people who look for houses usually have several choices for a future home, so it is highly likely for them to see fixtures or décor that they’ve already seen somewhere else.

 

  1. Stick to Minimalism
    It seems nice to keep on buying “stuff” for your home, but some items you won’t need for the long-term and will only take up space. Too much décor can actually make your home look less attractive, not more.

    Keep entryways clutter-free. Entryways are one of the first areas of a house that can make a good impression. It should always be clean, spacious and organized for first-time guests to have that feeling that they’re stepping into that perfect home.

    Use a minimalist shoe rack to organize shoes and avoid clutter. A messy space will only keep your home from looking attractive.

 

  1. Hang Unique Wall Pieces
    Try hanging a Tapestry to a bare wall. Adding this décor will give your room a different look, with a minimalist statement.  Any unique wall décor piece like frames and DIY art, will look great as long as it is properly placed.

 

If you want to make your home look more upgraded & attractive, make it look “intentional” that you wanted it to look that way. Use furniture, home accessories, and meaningful pieces that match well, to make it look like you put in the effort to make it that perfect home for a lucky buyer!

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Ultimate Guide to Finding Accessible Housing While You’re House Hunting

finding a home with accessibility

Image via Pixaby

According to the United States Census Bureau, nearly one in five Americans has a disability that affects their ability to walk, climb, hear, see, lift, or perform basic daily activities without the use of a wheelchair, walker, or cane. However, less than one percent of homes are wheelchair accessible — and only about a third could be modified to meet the needs of those with mobility impairments. While fewer housing options are available to accommodate individuals with disabilities, accessible homes are out there, and this guide will help you to find what you need.

Make a List of Must-Have Features

Before you begin your search for accessible housing, make a list of the features you’ll need in a home. If you hold moderate mobility impairments, for instance, you may need a one-level home, stepless entryways, an entry-level bathroom and bedroom (or an elevator on the main floor), and at least one accessible bathroom with safety handrails or grab bars.

If you need a wheelchair accessible home, then your list may include the aforementioned requirements in addition to the following:

  • Wide hallways and doorways
  • Doors with handles rather than knobs
  • Sinks with levers or handles
  • Flat surfaces between rooms (no steps)
  • Accessible features throughout the home, including accessible electrical switches and outlets, thermostats, countertops, and cabinets

If a home doesn’t contain these features, you may be able to modify the property in the future to make it more accessible. For example, you may be able to install a wheelchair ramp, lower the countertops and cabinets, replace the door and sink handles, and modify the kitchen or bathroom to make these rooms more accessible.

Moreover, several grants are available to assist you in making your home more accessible, comfortable, and livable if you hold a disability. A couple of options include the Modest Needs’ Self-Sufficiency Grant and the USDA’s Rural Housing Repair Loan/Grant.

Where to Find Accessible Homes for Sale

When you’re looking to buy a home but have a mobility impairment or disability, it’s important to work directly with a real estate agent who has experience in working with disabled clients, as he or she can help you to find accessible or potentially modifiable homes. If you are 50 years of age or older, however, you may choose to work with a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES).

In addition to working with a real estate agent, you can search for homes online by visiting websites such as:

  • Accessible Properties. Through Accessible Properties, you can search for accessible homes for sale in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.
  • Barrier-Free Home. Whichever state you live in, you can search for wheelchair-accessible homes, condos, and apartments in your area.
  • Zillow and Trulia. Through these websites, you can create a search filter for “accessible” as you look for homes in your desired area.

Explore Your Financing Options

As you search for accessible housing, you may need a loan to finance the purchase of your new home. However, many financial assistance programs are available to assist disabled homebuyers, including the Homeownership Voucher Program under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HomeReady Mortgages through Fannie Mae, and additional housing assistance under Habitat for Humanity.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, then you may also qualify for a mortgage under the Federal Housing Administration (known as an FHA loan). Before applying for a loan, however, it’s important to check your credit score, gather any documents you may need to apply for a mortgage, and work with a trusted lender to determine how much money you can afford to spend on the purchase of a home. After you’ve done so, look for an experienced real estate agent who can walk you through the entire home buying process.

While finding the perfect home can be a bit more difficult when you hold a mobility impairment or disability, these simple tips will help you to find accessible homes for sale in your area. Try not to worry if you can’t find a fully accessible home right away — your real estate agent can show you potentially modifiable homes as well.

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4 Staging Strategies to Help You Sell Your Home Faster This Winter

selling your home in the winter

Source: Unsplash

When you decide that you’re ready to sell your home and relocate, many people will advise you to wait until the weather gets a little warmer before listing it on the market. But should you really hold off until the holidays are over if you know that you want to move? Although it goes against popular wisdom, showing your home to prospective buyers during the winter months actually has some unexpected advantages.

According to Frederick Real Estate, fewer people selling their homes at this time of year means less competition for you, and everyone from real estate agents to contractors will have more room in their schedules to accommodate your needs. However, you might need to put a little more thought into staging and dealing with harsh weather. These tips will help you stage your home during the colder months to increase your curb appeal and impress potential buyers.

 

Keep an Eye on the Weather

Hazardous winter weather can present some additional challenges to both buyers and sellers. Before any buyers come by, make sure that walkways are clear of snow, ice, mud, and leaves — you don’t want anyone slipping and falling on their way to the house.

The weather can also be a concern on your own moving day. If you’re moving in the winter, trying to drive a large truck by yourself might not be advisable — let an experienced crew who knows how to navigate in inclement weather handle those responsibilities. Carefully research local moving companies and read over reviews. You can’t control the elements, but you can choose how you deal with the circumstances!

 

Add a Pop of Color

The dreary winter weather might not provide the most attractive backdrop to your home. However, you can create some contrast with a few pops of color. If you’re planning on decorating outside for the holiday season, keep it simple and make sure that your brightly colored decor complements the hues of your home’s siding. A new coat of paint on the mailbox and even an eye-catching set of house numbers can work wonders. Toss a cute welcome mat down and hang a wreath on the door to liven things up a bit.

 

Fresh Paint Job

Sometimes, a fresh outdoor paint job is just what your home needs for wintertime curb appeal. Check it out from the street yourself, and get a second opinion from a friend – if the consensus is that it looks a little drab, it’s time for a touch-up. You don’t need to paint the entire house. Repainting the window shutters and the front door is a quicker, more cost-effective option. Got a window box? Give it a fresh coat, too. Lowes also recommends looking into an exterior garage makeover; don’t ignore this important section of the house! Your goal is to make your home look like an inviting oasis despite the cold climate, and a basic paint job is key.

 

The Right Lighting

When it comes to your home’s interior, the right lighting can make all the difference, especially since the sun sets earlier this time of year. Ensure that all the lighting in the kitchen is bright enough for cooking and entertaining. Change the bulbs in bedside lamps, and consider a floor lamp for your living room. Wall-mounted lighting in hallways can also look elegant. You might even want to install an outdoor lamp by your front door to give your porch a warm glow.

Selling your home during the fall or winter might seem like a risky choice, but you might be surprised by how quickly you find a buyer. It’s all about considering the presentation from the buyer’s point of view and getting the aesthetics just right. And when your staging choices help you clinch that sale, you can ring in the New Year by celebrating as you put up that “Sold” sign.

Contact Sandra

Cell: 314-691-1320
Office: 636-946-2020
Contact Sandra

 

ReeceNichols – St. Charles

2171 Bluestone Dr.
St. Charles, MO 63303

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