Posts in category: Home Care

Many people are nervous, anxious and distracted when looking to buy a home. What location? What is our budget? What if we buy the wrong one? Research and asking questions will kick start your process, along with these seven secrets for buying your next house…

1. When you are looking to buy your next home, avoid moving large amounts of money around or making uncommon, large purchases. Lenders need to see your stable and risk-free financial lifestyle so that you get the best loan possible.

2. Get pre-approved for your home loan before you start seriously looking to buy a home. Knowing how much you can afford and how much a lender will loan to you is crucial so you aren’t looking at houses you cannot afford.

3. There is no such thing as “the perfect time to buy”. The market is a constant, changing cycle and the right time to buy is when you find a house you love and can afford.

4. Don’t allow yourself to settle when buying a house, but bigger isn’t always better. The value of a larger home will continue to rise so don’t let your eyes be the guide. Think about living within your means.

5. Be sure to recognize when you’re getting a great house for a great value and try not to let your emotions overpower your instincts.

6. Hire a home inspector to look into your new potential home. Spending a few hundred in the beginning is better than wasting away thousands later on. Fixer upper areas are also good for bargaining,

7. Make sure you like the neighborhood. How far is it from schools, grocery shopping, work, etc? Drive around the neighborhood before buying into it so you don’t find out a little too late that the neighbors are loud or the area isn’t safe.

     Thinking of selling your home? Have you thought about making any improvements before you sell? Be careful what projects you complete and what projects you leave unfinished! Most buyers are attracted to a certain neighborhood because of the location and pricing of the homes. Making your home seem updated won’t necessarily set it apart from the other fairly new homes. If you are thinking about selling your home here are a few “quick fixes” that could help you.

Flooring –

Hardwood: If you have wood under your carpets get rid of the carpet and refinish the floors. Hardwood flooring is in high demand!

Carpeting: If you don’t want to strip your carpet, think about replacing it with a tan color. Neutral colors are much more inviting in a resale.

Ceramic Tiles: Over the years, grout between tiles can become very dirty, giving your floor a ‘checkerboard’ look. Believe it or not, this is a big turn-off to buyers. Professionally steam cleaning or even acid washing your tile floor can take it back to a new look. Be sure to replace any unsightly broken or cracked tiles.

Kitchens & Bathrooms –

Cabinets: If your cabinets are damaged or worn, you should consider refinishing them. The newest kitchen rehab projects are including the painting of cabinetry, and at very reasonable prices! If your cabinets are very worn, you can even embrace the rustic look by painting in a way that embraces the wear and tear, giving the room new personality. Replace the hardware with knobs and pulls that are more updated or relevant.

Sinks: Make sure the sink is not stained and the faucets don’t leak. These are turnoffs that buyers won’t overlook and it is usually an easy fix.

Roofing & Exterior –

Roof: If the roof is torn or leaking, repair it. This takes a day or two but is not extremely expensive and is worth it. Be sure to save any receipts, for the new owner, from professional companies making repairs.

Landscaping: The first impression is always the most important so the outside of the house and the landscape should be clean and welcoming. Curb appeal is number 1!

Buyers want a home that is clean, convenient and ready to be occupied. The newer and cleaner your home looks, the more appealing it is to your buyer.

The winter months mean celebrating the holidays, reconnecting with family and friends and planning your resolutions for the New Year. They can also mean a sharp increase to your monthly heating bill in order to stay warm and comfortable. If you’re interested in controlling your energy expenses while maintaining comfort, the tips below will help you make sure more of your money is put towards presents than power.

* Close the doors to rooms that are not in use. Most of us remember to turn off the lights in a room we’re not using but we rarely shut the door. And we end up wasting energy because of it. Don’t waste heat on rooms that aren’t in use. Instead, close those doors and allow the heat to circulate within a smaller area. Your furnace will have an easier time maintaining the temperature and you’ll notice the benefit on your energy bill.

* Invest in a heat pump. Some rooms are simply too important to keep the door closed all of the time. If it’s a child’s play area or your office, then chances are you’re looking for a way to add a little more heat. Investing in a duct-free heat pump system is the perfect solution.

* Check for cracks and gaps around windows and doors. Today’s homes are more airtight than ever before but there is still the potential for cold air to enter your home via your doors and windows. Inspect each of these openings and seal or insulate any gaps you find to prevent the loss of warm air. You should also check for cracks and gaps around the door to the attic and at any locations where outside pipes or cords enter your home.

* Cover your windows. Small cracks or gaps in your windows can create drafts and cold air hits your windows and leaves them cold to the touch, transferring those frigid temperatures inside. Prevent that cold from coming into your home by sealing your windows. This simple procedure takes only minutes and will have a dramatic effect on your heating bill. And don’t forget that heavy weight curtains can also help keep drafts out.

* Check your insulation. Many homes, especially older homes, are vulnerable to cold temperatures because they lack sufficient insulation. Insulation is commonly found in the attic but it also exists in any outer wall. If you are concerned your home may be poorly insulated, you can check the insulation levels yourself or you can hire a qualified home energy auditor who will check your insulation as part of his overall energy assessment.

The colder months are coming but that doesn’t mean you have to feel it inside your own home. Prepare for winter with the tips included here and you’ll be ready to enjoy a warm and festive winter holiday season.

If you are looking for a new home or wanting to sell your current home,  please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

The holidays are near and we’re spreading the cheer with some simple decorations that can brighten up your home for the holiday season.

For your windows, hanging wreaths with red-berries or lights can brighten up the room and can be used all year long! It’s a cost-efficient way to showcase large windows and the front of your home without the hassle of standing on ladders or using lots of power tools.

For the halls, attaching garland over entryways or along stairways can accent the room. Another tip is to use tiny branches, small lights, bells or ribbons to bring life and create a focal point for the room. Similarly, you can also outline mirrors or doorframes with these accents.

The fireplace can be showcased with your favorite holiday figurine, a basket of pinecones, and greenery to create a winter wonderland for you and your guests to enjoy.

The outside of the home sets the tone for your house. Whether you like to have Santa Claus riding a Harley or a showcase of lights set to music, it’s important to consider having a succinct theme and not to overwhelm the outside of the house. Sticking with simple decorations are not only more cost efficient, but you also don’t risk the chance of something getting broken or damaged.

So here’s to the holidays and to homes that make us feel like we are living in our own winter fairytale.

If you’re looking for a new home or wanting to sell your current one, contact a NEW HOME RESOURCE professional Realtor® today at 702-365-1000. Broker Joanna Piette, Denise Moreno Thrasher, Evelyn “Beng” Kern, Jessica O’Brien, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are at your service!

Since September was National Home Furnishings Month, let’s take a look at some of the hottest trends in home furnishings for the fall and winter.

Lifestyle blogger Amy Henderson says keeping things eco-friendly is a growing trend as more people look to reduce their carbon footprints. Henderson says look for furniture composed of repurposed materials to limit the amount of waste you’re contributing to the planet.

She notes that the farmhouse look is falling back into style among many homeowners, but combining different decor is still a popular theme among professional interior designers. Whether you want to go more rustic in your contemporary kitchen or insert vintage decor into your modern bedroom, Henderson says take this concept to heart as you work.

Then there is the color – she says the right hues can instantly transform your space from looking dated to fresh. That being said, bright and vivid colors are the name of the game.

Specifically, she says, these tones are being seen in furniture – not just wall paint – which gives flair and visual interest to living areas that could use it. Henderson says before you dismiss paint swatches in bright blue or mellow yellow, think about what these hues could do for your home.

When it comes to furnishings, the folks at Stony Creek Furniture say smaller scaled furniture is very hot right now. And while it’s small on size, it’s huge on style and functionality.

They are also loving accent chairs – and advising clients to go a little wild on the pattern – maybe a dramatic black and white graphic. Designer Comer Wear of Century Furniture told Furniture Today magazine earlier this year that today’s market offers an accent chair for every setting.

“Chairs are a perfect way to include a fabric that you don’t want to show in a big way,” he said. “We style and put together our showroom settings so our dealers feel comfortable with mixing and matching, but we also push the envelope at market to show unusual pairings of fabrics and frames.”

Office furniture and desks, are also very popular since so many people work at home need a functional and stylish desk. The marketplace has answered with myriad choices in every style imaginable.

If you’re looking for a fabulous new home of your own, call a professional NEW HOME RESOURCE agent today at 702-365-1000!     Joanna Piette, Denise Moreno Thrasher, Evelyn “Beng” Kern, Lance Partin, Jessica O’Brien and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

By John Voket

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved

With over half of all homeowners planning to make some type of improvement to their home this year, the question is:  What exactly are they changing? Homeowners are choosing to wait until the high temperatures break and cooler weather hits to begin outdoor work, and home improvement companies are looking to unload new products to prepare for the new season, allowing homeowners to grab some great deals as autumn begins.

The most common fall home improvement projects include fencing, interior and exterior painting, window work, flooring, and roof repair, all of which are in preparation for the cold winter weather when home improvement projects are not at the top of your priority list. By getting these projects done before winter, you can put your home improvement projects to rest until spring without worrying about leaky roofs, cold air coming through cracks in the windows, and maintaining the value of your home with fencing and a fresh coat of paint.

“The cooler autumn temperatures make for the perfect time to focus more on the home and any remodeling projects,” says Jeremy Floyd of Fence Center. “Such projects like adding in bamboo or aluminum fencing, not only increases your family’s security, but the value of your home. Now that autumn is officially here, people are likely beginning to get these home improvement projects rolling.”    According to Floyd:

• Projects such as flooring, such as wood, can only be done during certain months of the year because certain types of flooring employ adhesives that need temperatures inside the home to be within a certain range, usually between 70 and 80 degrees. Attempting to employ these types of flooring in the winter can make it difficult for the flooring to dry and bond, which will prove problematic down the road.
• Fall offers the perfect time to increase the security of your home, particularly for fencing, as the ground is not too hard to work with.
• Painting provides a pungent scent and sometimes toxic fumes, making fall the perfect time for painting. Without the humidity, paint can dry quickly, keeping the aromas of the paint to a minimum.

If you are looking for a new home or wanting to sell your current home,  please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

With a season change readily approaching, it’s time to start thinking about the seasonal maintenance needed on your home. Yes, we live in a desert, and while most people think that we only have one season: summer, we do in fact have four seasons. Granted, we are blessed with beautiful weather and minimal rain for most of the year. With that in mind, here are a few home maintenance tips we at New Home Resource suggest for the fall season:

1. Schedule a tune up: Having a technician come and tune up your heating system will ensure that everything is in order and will work during the colder months ahead. They will also check for carbon-monoxide leakage as well. Spending the money now will ensure that you’re not stuck with a broken heater and a 3 day wait for someone to fix it.
2. Reverse the air: When it comes to turning on the heater it’s time to reverse the ceiling fans. Why? Reversing the ceiling fans to a clockwise spin will help to circulate the hot air, distributing the heat more evenly and cutting down the need to turn up the heater.
3. Hit the roof: Checking the roof for any missing or broken tiles now could prevent water damage and save you a fortune when it rains. And we all know in Las Vegas that when it rains, it pours.
4. Fill in the gaps: Caulking or weather stripping all the windows and doors will not only stop drafts but also help keep your heating bills down.
5. Gut it: Clearing out your gutters of any debris will make sure that during Las Vegas’ infamous flash floods the gutters will work efficiently. You can cover the top half with a fine mesh to help prevent the leaves and debris from building up in the future.
6. Test your sump pump: You should test your sump pump every few months especially after a long dry season, for which Las Vegas is famous. You can do this by slowly pouring several gallons of water into the sump pit to see whether the pump turns on.

If you are looking for a new home, please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher and Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern are all here to help!

In a world with soaring energy costs and warmer temperatures, more and more people are looking to make their homes more energy efficient and therefore ‘green’.

Many people don’t know where to start or are overwhelmed with what needs to be done.

What are the benefits of making your home energy efficient?

1. You are doing your part in making the world a greener place.
2. Reducing your energy expenditure for space heating and cooling.
3. Higher resale and/or leasing values & marketability.
4. Enhanced environmental quality & decreased pollution.
5. Energy efficiency can also boost the local economy and create downward pressure on natural gas prices and volatility.

Here are several ways that you can make your home energy efficient:

1. Insulate walls and attic. By insulating all the walls and attic in the house you are stopping heat from escaping during the winter or flow into the house during the summer. This will reduce both the cost and the need to heat and cool the house during the respective months.
2. Caulk the exterior. Take a caulk gun and fill in any gaps around the exterior. Key places to caulk would be anywhere there are pipes running into the house, around doors and window frames and any cracks in the exterior wall. This will reduce air flow into the house and help the house to retain it’s heat.
3. Plant shade trees and shrubs. By planting shade trees and shrubs around the house, you are creating an extra layer of protection from the sun’s radiation throughout the summer and an extra source of heat during the winter. And, of course, the yard will look beautiful.
4. Replace existing light-bulbs with CFLs. Replacing the existing light-bulbs in the house with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), will reduce energy use by 3/4 compared to incandescent light-bulbs.
5. Improve efficiency of your water heater system. There are 3 things you can do aside from buying a new water heater. 1) Turn your water heater down to the warm setting. 2) Insulate the hot water pipes. This will prevent the water from cooling down as quickly in between uses. 3) Use low-flow fixtures for the showers and baths.
6. Upgrade or replace windows. Replacing windows, especially single-glazed windows, with Energy Star-rated replacements will improve your energy usage by 7-24 percent.
7. Change your air filter. Check your air filter regularly. If it is dirty then replace it. This should be done at least every 3 months. A dirty filter will block the air flow and make the system work harder to heat or cool the house.
8. Use solar film or solar shades on windows. Reflect heat, and therefore lower cooling costs, by shielding exterior windows with solar film or solar shades.
   
9. Replace your refrigerator. This essential appliance is also the most energy-guzzling appliance. Replacing your refrigerator with a new Energy Star-rated refrigerator will see a 20-40% difference in energy use and cost.

A new home purchase is one of the largest investments a person will ever make.

A Home Warranty is simply a service contract.  It helps to safeguard homeowners against the high cost of repairs or replacements to the major mechanical systems and appliances that fail due to normal wear and tear.    A home warranty offers the convenience of one source for most repairs,  so that you can avoid the hassle of finding a service contractor in your area.     When a covered system or appliance breaks down, all you need to do is contact the warranty company to report the problem!      A qualified, pre-screened service technician will contact you to schedule an appointment that works for you.  You can request service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It’s that simple.

On average, homeowners/contract holders will have 2 service calls per year, saving them hundreds to thousands of dollars on repair/replacement costs.  See below:

Have your agent help you arrange for a home warranty at closing.       Sometimes even the seller will pay toward the warranty cost!!

This information comes to us, courtesy of HSA Home Warranty Company 🙂

The Clutter Wars

With summer behind us and in looking forward to a bit cooler temperatures (And of course, the Holidays, family visits and friendly gatherings at home), I would like to share with you some great tips on how to de-clutter and organize your home.

The first step in winning the Clutter Wars is to de-bug your own mind! Most of us do not recognize clutter when it falls out of the closet into our heads, so how can we conquer it? Let’s start by defining what clutter is. Clutter is anything in your home:

**That is out of place

**That is broken

**That you have not used in more than a year

**That you have not worn in more than a year

**That you dislike

Now don’t panic….I am not saying for you to throw away everything that falls within the above definitions of clutter. BUT..once you get a clear picture in your head of what constitutes clutter you will be better able to deal with it!!

Now, you start in one small space like a closet or junk drawer, and put things in order. Have a large trash can and 4 boxes labeled:

FIX

PUT AWAY

SET FREE

MEMENTOS

Now begin selecting the objects and decide what goes into each…

The Trash-You’ll find plenty of stuff that is absolutely unusable…BE RUTHLESS.

The PUT AWAY-Anything goes in here that is out of place or better off in a different location. When you are done, take the 10 minutes to put them where they really belong!

The FIX-Any items damaged or missing parts, but you are certain that you would use it if it were repaired. If you do not repair it within a week to 10 days, it goes to the SET FREE box…

The SET FREE-All items you dislike, haven’t used, orphaned gifts from friends and family (when you said “Oh, you really shouldn’t have!”), things that still have some good use, things that “will surely fit again someday”.  This box goes into the trunk of your car to take to your local resale store or charity center.

Many charities will even be happy to pick it up at your front door-what convenience! You will be doing a good thing, since someone will be getting some good out of

these items right now.

 The “Mementos” box- This one can be a bit tricky. It’s for things that

have true sentimental or family heirloom value. You will want to

invest in a cedar chest or other similar sized permanent storage unit.

The items from this box will go into that permanent storage. But

remember, that cedar heirloom chest will fill up rapidly if you are too

casual about “what’s an heirloom.” Consider passing on some of these

things to extended family members right now—don’t wait 20 years!

Now you are one closet or drawer closer to having a serene, uncluttered home! Next week, take this same process and tackle another corner of the house!

Penny Womack,

Realtor, ABR, SFR