How to Add Personality to Painting Projects


When it comes to painting a room or the entire house, most people focus on picking paint colors. Painting involves a lot more, from prep to cleaning brushes and picking the best paint finish for durability.

You can find lots of great tips on coordinating paint colors with your furniture, artwork, flooring and more (see HGTV’s 15 Designer Tricks for Picking a Perfect Color Palette). Now we’re also seeing interior designers decorating walls with much more than paint. Wallpaper is coming back, and homeowners are now using tile and wood for wall coverings but these types of wall treatments require a bigger investment than paint.

We know there... 

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Which Home Improvements Have the Highest ROI


your home exterior includes many features that need home repairs

Maybe you’re thinking about buying a new house and have to prioritize the features you want or … can afford? Or you might be planning an addition or major remodeling project so you can stay in the house you’re in. Your home is a huge investment and you want to spend your money wisely. So this month, we’re offering tips on how to research home features.

Hanley Woods annual Cost vs Value report is a good place to start, It provides cost data plus the projected return on investment (ROI) for 29 popular home improvement projects. The report breaks the data down for... 

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After the Closing, 25 Things You Need to Do


Buying a house can be very stressful. You have to collect lots of paperwork and review/sign lots of documents before and during the closing. So once you’re handed the keys, you’re ready to relax.

But there are quite a few things you still need to take care of.

This article outlines what homeowners need to do after buying a new home. Even if you’ve been in your house for several years, you may find things you missed. Some tasks only need to be done once, while others should be reviewed every year.

Things You’ll Want to Do Before/While Settling In

File a change of address... 

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Sunlight & Solar Energy, A Smart Decision


Are you seeing more solar panels in your neighborhood? That’s because the federal solar tax credit has been extended. Through 2019, the credit is a whopping 30% of the cost of solar systems and through 2021, homeowners of new houses can deduct a slightly lower percent of installed solar. That’s a huge gift with Uncle Sam paying almost one-third of the cost of solar panels that will save you money for years to come (more details at EnergySage.com).

For many homeowners, the decision to install solar panels or wait is primarily about their cost. Some people though, don’t like the look of these... 

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Ready to Spring Into Action


With longer days, it feels like there’s more time to get outdoors. You might play ball with your kids, take long walks around the neighborhood and/or fire up the grill a few nights each week. With any of these activities you might also notice a few things around the house that look worn, drab and dated.

So we thought it would be fun to look at some ideas for sprucing up your home this spring. There are lots of reasons to do this from a graduation party in June to summer gatherings with friends or maybe you’re getting your home ready to... 

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Home Design Trends in 2017


There are lots of exciting things happening in home design. The combined International Home Builder Show (IBS), Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), and New American Home were held in Orlando recently. We wanted to share some of the home design themes seen there, to help you create your dream home.

We often think we can tell what a house is like by it’s appearance from the street. This year’s New American Home broke that rule. From the street it appears to be a contemporary home in Florida but it turned out to be so much more.

Houses with More Glass Walls... 

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Strategy for Investing in Home Technology


There are lots of new buzzwords talking about smart homes, home automation and the Internet of Things. There’s also a lot of confusion about what they mean, so let’s start with some definitions.

Terminology for Today’s Smart Homes

Internet of Things (IoT) – refers to the interconnection of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, like light bulbs. The computer devices allow “things” to send and receive data, and thus transform the way we live and work. Home automation – involves the control and automation of lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), security, home appliances and home electronics for work and entertainment. Smart homes... 

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Creating Memories of the Holidays to Enjoy All Year


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It’s fun decorating our homes for the year end holidays. Now think about the your favorite holiday memories and those you want to capture with photographs to enjoy throughout the year. You’ll quickly realize that your favorite memoires involve the people you love. Our homes are simply the backdrop for our holiday traditions, providing us with the space and gadgets to enjoy time together.

So we invite you to join us as we explore ideas for creating special spaces where you can encourage more face-to-face interactions while creating great photo opportunities. We know you already have lots of decorating ideas so we’ll look... 

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What’s On Your Home Management Calendar?


We get annual checkups at the doctor and take our cars in for oil changes periodically. If you have a family budget, you might review your insurance costs once a year but what about your house? Do you know how much you’re spending on utilities, maintenance and repairs? Are you trying to save for a deck in the backyard or want to remodel the master bathroom?

Now that the kids are back in school, it’s the perfect time to take a look at what your home needed this past year, and priorities for next year. Unless you’re a realtor or work in construction, managing... 

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Homeowners Insurance – How Many Kinds are There?


When buying a house, it makes sense to purchase homeowners insurance to protect your investment. And if you’re financing your home, the lender will require that you have coverage to protect their loan.

Buying a house involves a lot of paperwork. That’s why most of us never take enough time to review all the different types of homeowners insurance that exist, and how they work to protect our homes.

Homeowners Insurance Associated with Buying a House

Did you understand the different types of insurance you might pay for when closing on a new house? They might have gotten lost in a sea of numbers on the closing... 

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