Category: Guest Blog Posts

Things to Consider Before Installing a Pool in your Yard

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

A pool in your backyard can make summers fun for your whole family. You can have guests over and enjoy backyard gatherings all summer long. But before you have that pool installed, there are some items to consider that may or may not change your mind.

Pool Security

If someone sneaks into your yard and gets hurt in your pool, you could be held responsible. What kinds of security measures are you installing to go along with your pool? You could install a pool alarm, or you could put a privacy fence up around your yard to keep everyone else out.

Pool Safety

When considering getting a pool, the first thing young families think about is safety. If you have children, it’s important to use a locking safety fence or a pool net. This will help keep your children away from the pool when they are unattended. Make sure older children know pool rules and not to swim without an adult present. If you live in a warmer climate where swimming is a daily activity, swim lessons for families are a great way to get the entire family ready for safe pool use.

Maintenance Costs

Pools are a lot of fun, but they are also a lot of work. You have to know how to measure the pH of your pool water so that you can add the right amount of chemicals. The chemicals, filters, and vacuuming equipment necessary to keep a pool maintained can be expensive. That does not include the special supplies you need to close the pool for the winter and then open it in the spring.

Your Home Value

An inground pool may help to raise your property value, but an above-ground pool may not. When it comes to your home’s value, you also have to wonder if the increase in your home’s value will be more than what it cost to have the pool installed. What if the pool does decrease the value of your home? Would it still be worth it to have one installed? Do your research. If you live in an area where pools are common and highly desirable, a pool will probably increase the appeal of your home. However, your home value most likely won’t increase enough to cover the total cost of the pool.

Zoning Regulations

Will your town even let you have a pool in your yard? Many municipalities have very specific zoning regulations on installing a pool. You may have to also install a fence and some other safety features, based on local regulations. In some areas, your pool has to be a certain distance from your property line, which may not leave a lot of room for the pool itself.

Energy Bill

If you choose to get a heated pool, then your energy bills are going to go way up. Even the simple matter of having a filter and pool vacuum that runs several hours a day can add costs to your energy bills.

When you bring up the idea of installing a pool in your backyard for your family, you may get a rousing cheer of approval. But you may want to really think this through before you actually put a pool in your backyard.

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Selling Property: Additions That Can Increase Home Value

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

If you are trying to sell a property in Orlando, you know that making your home stand out from the competition can be difficult. However, there are some additions that can increase a home’s value and make the house easier to sell when it hits the market.

1 Count the Bathrooms

Never underestimate the power of an additional bathroom in your home. Everyone can use another bathroom. This is particularly true if the home you want to sell only has one bathroom; most buyers won’t even consider a home with only one bathroom. If your home has two stories, make sure there is at least one bathroom on the main floor because buyers in today’s market have come to expect that.

2 Garages are Good Bets

Many home buyers also expect to have a garage to protect their vehicles. While most buyers want an attached garage, if adding one to your existing house isn’t possible, you can add a detached garage to your property to increase the value. This is bonus square footage that can be used to house a vehicle or for storage.

3 Media Rooms Sell

Another smart addition to a home is a media room. You may not have to add on to your house to get a media room. You can take an existing space within your home and convert it to add the media room. For example, you might finish a room in your unfinished basement or loft area. Buyers in today’s real estate market are looking for homes with all of the bells and whistles, so you will get your money back on this investment.

4 Home Offices are Hot

You can also increase your home’s value and help it sell quickly by adding a home office. Most home buyers like having a dedicated space in the house to use for the computer, printer, and fax machine. However, more people are working at home today than at any other time in history, so lots of buyers need home offices for their jobs. This one feature could make your property stand out from all of the rest.

5 Outdoor Space is Nice

A final addition is an outdoor space. Many buyers want a home that provides outdoor entertainment space, so this is a good return on your investment. You might build a deck or patio in the backyard. You can even add furniture to the area. Swimming pools are also a good idea. “A pool is a lasting investment in both your home and in your life. It can add value to your property,”

Making smart decisions can help you increase your home’s value and make it easy to sell. You just have to spend your dollars wisely.

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Money-Saving Additions to Look for When Purchasing a New Home

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

When you are in the process of buying a home, you will have a list of amenities that you consider important or even essential. If you are wise about your home purchase, some of those amenities should focus on cutting down on the cost of owning a home. There are money-saving additions that you can look for when you are shopping for a home that will make your purchase that much more valuable and a few of them are listed right here…

 

Windmills

A single windmill on a property you are looking to buy can shave money off of your energy bill each and every month. A windmill can be set up to collect power in batteries and then access that power at a small but sustainable rate. It does not cost much for a property owner to install a windmill, and it can pay for itself over time. The only problem that can be seen with this is if you don’t have sufficient wind in your area to sustain yourself.

Solar Panels

You can always tell the more energy-conscious property owners by how they use solar panels around their homes. If you are looking at a property with the intention of purchasing it, and you see solar panels on the roof, then keep a lookout for solar panels on other parts of the property as well. Solar panels can be used to power landscape lighting, external security lighting, and even the swimming pool heater as well.

Water Wells

City properties are usually tied into the city water supply, which generates monthly bills for your water consumption. But when you find a property that has a water well or two onsite, then you can save money on those water bills and still have all of the water you need. A water well on your property is one of the many additions to a home that keeps on paying you back year after year. If your home doesn’t already have a well you can be sure to get ahold of a water well drilling company in Alberta, and you will soon be enjoying the benefits of owning your own.

Wood Burning Stove

If you have never experienced the warming power of a wood-burning stove, then you have no idea how much they can save on your energy bills. Some people put ducts on their wood-burning stoves and use the stoves to heat the upper floors of their homes as well. A wood-burning stove is a great way to enjoy a little rustic cooking and heat your home at a discount.

Buying a new home can be a long and exciting adventure but if you aren’t careful you can end up purchasing a home that will cost you an arm and a leg in utilities. As you look at the homes in your price range, you should also be looking for additions that the current owner has installed which will save you a lot of money in the future.

Orlando Real Estate Broker

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Five Weekend Projects to Elevate Your Home’s Value

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

You want to raise your home’s value – that goes without saying. Should you ever decide to sell, you want to make enough from your existing home to purchase a new home without turning to a company or taking out mortgage loans. Luckily, there are several weekend projects you can take on to raise the value of your home very quickly.

1. Paint

It goes without saying – if your paint job is patchy, fix it. A good coat of paint will fix most problems and takes next to no time at all. A few hours on a Saturday, and you’re good to go. While it might cost a few bucks for the paint, it will raise the value of your home so much more when there aren’t unsightly spots on the walls.

2. Declutter

If you’re going to sell your home, present it in its optimal state – not like you just finished opening presents on Christmas morning. Spend a few hours putting up toys, tools, and dishes, and cleaning the home. Imagine you’re throwing a dinner party, and want to impress the guests with your cleanliness.

3. Spruce up the lawn.

Your landscape matters to the value of your home. If you’ve got overgrown plants, a lawn in desperate need of mowing, or just unsightly flowerbeds, take a few minutes to fix them. Mow the lawn, prune the bushes, and pluck the weeds from the flowerbeds. Spending a few dollars on flowers and planting them can do wonders for an otherwise dull yard.

4. Brighten your lighting.

If you have light fixtures with broken bulbs, or light fixtures that are just unattractive, swap them out for something better. Those fluorescent LED lights that are so common in kitchens? Get rid of them, and replace it with a nice chandelier instead. According to mortgage loan experts in Sacramento and other cities, this small investment will go a long way with lighting and add value to your home.

5. Clean up the bathrooms.

Too many homes have bathrooms that look like they feed straight into the Black Lagoon. If you clean up the bathrooms, scrubbing off any mold and mildew that might be present, your potential buyers will thank you for it in the best possible way – by paying more for your home.

These five projects would only take a few hours to do, and it’s likely you could do them all in a single weekend. Even though they are small, these things are necessary for raising the value of your home, and will pay in dividends later down the road. Besides, it’s nice to have a clean, well-put-together home.

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How to Choose a Home That the Architect in You Will Love

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

When you are looking to either build or buy a home, it is impossible to make the decision based solely on how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need. House hunting becomes much more enjoyable when you take time to enjoy the architecture of each home and consider how it could fulfill the purposes you require.

Bungalow

Bungalow style heavily emphasizes the natural materials used to construct it. Often these homes feature a front porch, low-pitched roofs, exposed beams, and grand fireplaces. This style can have other sub-styles like American, California, and Chicago.

Why Bungalow?

Typically the bungalow style works well for people who want their home to blend with nature. Bungalows have a cozy feel and are often open and exposed. If you appreciate incorporating nature into the architecture and want a space that just feels “homey,” this style is for you.

Cape Cod

The Cape Cod style homes are influenced by classic British cottages. These houses have steep roofs and large chimneys perfect to combat the weather in the northeastern United States. This style was often used in early American housing developments.

Why Cape Cod?

For dwellers in areas with harsh winds or torrential rain, the Cape Cod style is a good option. Additionally, because these homes are usually kept simple they work well for newlywed couples looking to just start out with a new family.

Prairie

The prairie style was heavily emphasized and developed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 20th century. Like the bungalow style, prairie houses focus on organic and natural materials, but unlike the bungalow, these homes have an open floor plan. They also work with vertical lines to make the house appear bigger and taller than it really is.

Why Prairie?

Prairies styles blend well enough in a regular suburban neighborhood. However they are also unique enough to stand out and be stylish. These are often found in the American Midwest and are considered to be the “All-American Home.” These homes fulfill practical needs without being overly showy or outstanding.

Ranch

Styled after traditional western ranches, ranch homes are also aesthetically connected to the outdoors. They feature an open floor plan for the public areas and more secluded spaces for private rooms. Although ranch homes are asymmetrical, they are also typically rather simple.

Why Ranch?

Ranch homes have a nice flow to them. They are perfect for people who want to keep their home economical and simple, but still nice. They offer enough space for it to feel like there is privacy but also enough open space to entertain guests.

Row Houses

A row house, or terrace house, is most commonly found in housing developments or urban areas where space is limited. These homes are taller, usually two or more stories. They have a traditional layout but a smaller lawn.

Why Row House?

Row houses are also common for young couples and newlyweds. They work well because they allow you to be in a populated area, giving you social exposure, but still give you the space and functionality of a full-sized home.

Victorian

Victorian-era homes are influenced by a variety of sub-styles and cultures. The designs are usually asymmetrical and complex with ornate architecture and large porches. Different regions of America will have different variations of style. While some areas may have large, three-story homes, others will feature smaller cottage-style Victorian houses.

Why Victorian?

Victorian homes are unique and classy. They offer all of the space that you could want in a modern home but with different architecture than what you would normally find in other styles.

This is just a small sampling of home styles to consider in your house hunt. There are still art deco, colonial, contemporary, and other styles to think about. However, as you admire the architecture of various homes, remember to keep in mind what kind of functionality you need. Will you require a porch for summer nights? A large yard for your children to play in? A single story for mobility purposes?

Before finalizing make sure you get the help you need to make your dream house https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/. Choose something that you and is aesthetically pleasing so that you can find even more joy and happiness in your home.

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