Stains are common issues faced by homeowners; however, when the stains involve the walls, this can be a difficult challenge. Stains and grease are a much tougher challenge than dust and cobwebs. That is why there are specialized methods that help remove grease and stains from walls.Remove Grease From Kitchen WallsGrease is one of the most common occupational hazards of cooking. While grease can prevent foods from sticking to pots and pans, this can be a real challenge if it ends up on the kitchen walls.Fortunately, there is dish soap that can strip the grease right off of the walls. In order to use dish soap to remove grease from kitchen walls, take a quarter tsp of dish soap, mix it with one cup of warm water, and wipe the grease off the walls. Then, rinse the solution from the wall wi... 09/08/2020

For many people, owning a home is their dream. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire country and has left many people wondering if they can still afford to own a home. While this might put some things on hold, there are steps that everyone can take to keep the dream of owning a home alive.Get Pre-Approved For A MortgageThe first step that you should complete if you would like to own a home is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. The pre-approval process will give you a firm idea of what you can afford. Then, you can start to narrow your search and find homes that are within your price range.Furthermore, when you do make an offer, sellers will know that you are serious about buying the home because you have already been pre-approved. Reach out to a lender and get pre-approved for ... 09/02/2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm. Millions of people all over the world have been infected and businesses have ground to a halt. During this time, it is important for everyone to take a breath, pause, and look at their insurance policies.The reality is that the economic crisis is following in the footsteps of the obvious public health emergency. In order for everyone to hold their finances together, it is important to explore all of the options. This includes looking at insurance policies.Business Interruption InsuranceOne of the first policies or riders that everyone has to look for is called business interruption insurance. This is an insurance policy that might be able to assist companies that are struggling with reduced revenue streams due to interruptions in their... 08/14/2020

Recently, the local region’s subcommittee held a meeting using videoconferencing and discussed a new version Home Buyer Assistance Program. The Home Buyer Assistance Program has been designed to help first-time homebuyers by providing a down payment of up to $25,000. The funding for the Home Buyer Assistance Program is going to come from the city’s reparations fund.The local city council agreed to deposit up to $10 million in tax revenue from the city into this fund. It appears that some of it will be used to help people purchase their first home.An Overview Of The Home Buyer Assistance ProgramThe Home Buyer Assistance Program has been put together using feedback from the local community. All of these recommendations were taken into account when looking at how to remedy the situation. I... 08/11/2020

If you are looking to buy a home one day but don’t think you are ready just yet, you are not alone. One of the most important tasks that you have to complete involves getting your finances in order.There are a few ways to get your finances in order before you buy, no matter how long you have been waiting to buy a home. Getting your finances in order with these simple steps can help you become a more competitive applicant both for a mortgage and a home that is on the market.Focus On Your Credit ScoreWhile it is true that your credit doesn’t have to be perfect in order to get a home, a strong credit score will increase your chances of getting approved. In addition, a great credit score can also help you get a lower interest rate on your mortgage.Some of the ways that you can improve your ... 07/17/2020

As a homeowner, there are numerous situations in which someone might need a home service professional. On the other hand, this can also create a sense of vulnerability because people might not know who to choose. In order to find the right home service professional, there are a few tips that people need to follow.Confirm CredentialsCredentials and experience are great markers of a home service professional’s training and track record; however, it is still important to confirm these credentials. Be sure to ask the contractor for references regarding his or her prior work.Then, take the time to confirm these references. This will help homeowners make sure they are getting the right person for the job. If the past contracts went well, the future ones are likely to meet expectations as well... 07/14/2020

Renovating a home is not only a way to increase the family’s standard of living but it can also be seen as an investment. There are multiple ways for someone to increase the value of their home and renovations are one of the most straightforward. At the same time, some investments offer a better return than others.Those who are thinking about selling their home in the future should strive to get every dollar possible. Renovations can make this happen.Garage Door ReplacementWhen people think about renovations, they don’t often think about the garage. Some people don’t even include their garage in their square footage because it might not be heated; however, replacing the garage door can provide a major investment return.In some cases, the value of the garage door itself may double with a... 07/10/2020

There are multiple types of loans out there and one of the easiest to get is called a hard money loan. On the other hand, it is also important for people to avoid being lured in by an attractive loan offer because it might be expensive. When it comes to a hard money loan, there are a few important points that people should note. These can be an essential tool for investors.What Is A Hard Money Loan?As a rule of thumb, most people look at a hard money loan as a tool of last resort. This is usually employed as a short-term loan or a bridge loan. This type of loan is commonly found in real estate deals.Even though many people refer to a hard money loan as a loan of last resort, they serve a bigger purpose than this. Lots of real estate investors take out a hard money loan as part of their ... 06/26/2020

When someone is applying for a mortgage, it is important to consider the other costs that go along with taking out this type of loan. While many people focus on the down payment, the size of the loan, and the interest rate, there are other costs that might go along with taking out a mortgage.These hidden fees are sometimes referred to as “nickels and dimes” that the lender tacks on to the loan to try to make some extra money. When compared to the size of the loan, many borrowers shrug this off because the loan is so big; however, nobody should have to pay more than they should. It is important to aim for the lowest borrowing costs possible when applying for a mortgage.The Hidden Borrowing Costs Of A MortgageThere are several hidden borrowing costs when it comes to a mortgage. One of the... 06/24/2020

When you buy a new house, the first thing you want to do is protect your investment. You already have property insurance. Should you also buy a home warranty?What Is A Home Warranty?A home warranty is not the same thing as insurance. Home warranties are service contracts. If a covered item breaks down and it is covered in the terms of the warranty, the home warranty company will pay to fix or replace that item.What is Covered Under A Home Warranty?Every home warranty contract is different but generally, a home warranty may cover items like major kitchen appliances, HVAC components, sump pump, in-home sauna or spa tub, and/or ceiling and exhaust fans.Often, a homeowner can get an extended warranty contract that covers items like the washer and dryer, garage door opener, septic system and... 06/19/2020

As a homebuyer, your real estate agent will do their best bring you to see homes that meet the criteria you asked for. However, there’s no guarantee that a home will have a history of being properly cared for.Your real estate agent can choose the homes you see, but they have no control over the property owner’s homeownership habits.Why Home Maintenance MattersHome maintenance should matter to you as a homebuyer and later on as a homeowner. A home needs consistent and proper maintenance in order to run efficiently, and that doesn’t only apply to moving parts like the HVAC system. If a home isn’t looked after, it begins to run down and then break down.Just as a poorly maintained vehicle will eventually strand its owner on the side of the road, a poorly maintained home will eventually fail... 06/18/2020

When you are a first-time homeowner, learning about your property can feel overwhelming. There are a number of systems in your home that require routine maintenance. Knowing when to have system serviced will help keep your home running smoothly. From the plumbing in your home, to the heating and cooling, understand that each system may need routine maintenance from time to time. Your Heating And Cooling SystemTo maintain comfortable air temperatures in your home, it’s important to keep your heating and cooling system up-to-date. If you have a whole home system, it should be serviced once before the heating season and once before the cooling season. When you get filters changed, and your system serviced, you are less likely to have to deal with emergency repairs. In addition, your HVAC s... 06/02/2020

Nearly everyone has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in some way. While many people are getting tired of being cooped up in their homes, the home improvement industry has actually been able to stay afloat. Furthermore, it is actually thriving. Because many people are trapped in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are thinking about carrying out a home remodeling project. For those who are wondering about the prospects of such an undertaking, it is important to weigh the pros and cons. The Pros Of Home Remodeling During The COVID-19 PandemicThere are a few benefits that people should note about remodeling during this time. They include: There is more time to plan out the project. With extra time, people can compare costs, take virtual tours of showrooms, and even ... 05/28/2020

Owning a home may be the American dream, but for many who are in a lower income bracket, finding a loan can become challenging. Thankfully, there are several loan programs that can work well for lower income people considering homeownership. Here’s a closer look at some of these home loans designed to help people who have a low-to-moderate income find a way to buy a home.FHA Home LoansFHA home loans are loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration. Lenders are more likely to lend to “higher risk” borrowers through the FHA loan program because the loans have the FHA’s backing.With the FHA loan, a borrower can have a credit rating as low as 500, as long as there is a reasonable explanation for it, and a fairly high debt-to-income ratio. According to the U.S. Department of Housing an... 05/22/2020

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has impacted every part of the economy. This is a dangerous virus and has left many parts of the country on lockdown orders to prevent it from spreading rapidly. The question many people are asking is how much the real estate is going to be impacted by the virus as well.People Are Not Looking For HousesOne of the biggest impacts of coronavirus is that some people simply aren’t out looking for houses. Stay at home orders and social distancing measures have prevented people from touring homes that they may be interested in buying and sellers postponing the listing of their home for sale.In some parts of the country, the new listings available for homes have dropped drastically. This includes areas of the country that have been hit the h... 05/20/2020

In the wake of the recent news reports, you might be looking for ways to make your home safer. Some of the most common accidents and events that take place in homes include poisoning events, falls, and even burglaries. The good news is that there are ways to improve the safety of your home. You might even be rewarded with a lower home insurance premium!Invest In An Alarm SystemIt is not easy to figure out exactly how many burglaries are prevented every year by having an alarm system; however, even having a sign in the front yard could be enough to scare off potential intruders. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to make your home safer, invest in a home alarm system. The price of a home alarm system from vary from provider to provider. Homeowners can tailor their security servi... 05/19/2020

Owning a house comes with major responsibilities and one of the most important is routine maintenance. While many people like to skip routine maintenance in an effort to save money, the reality is that these routine maintenance is going to save people down the road. The reality is that maintenance is a homeowner’s first line of defense when it comes to protecting their most valuable investment, which is their home.There are a few projects that may save homeowners thousands of dollars down the road.Inspect The Plumbing ConnectionsIt is easy to forget about the plumbing system because many people don’t even see their pipes until problems arise. The idea behind expecting the plumbing system is that problems can be spotted before they cause a house to flood. Some of the appliances that peop... 05/15/2020

For most people, their home is the most valuable investment they are ever going to make. Therefore, it should make sense that people will want to improve its value over time. In this case, people are going to need to invest in power tools. Those who are interested in home improvement projects need to know about the five most important power tools available in today’s market.A Power DrillWhile this might seem obvious, many people do not own a power drill. This is almost always at the top of the list of the best power tools on the market. It is a versatile tool that can handle everything from hanging pictures to putting in a fence. People need to make sure they know about the various options for drills on the market and find the one that is right for their needs.A JigsawA jigsaw is a uniq... 05/08/2020

Every year, homeowners spend billions of dollars renovating their homes. It almost seems expected that homeowners are going to end up going over budget on any project. On the other hand, this doesn’t have to be the case. In reality, there are a few tips and tricks that homeowners can follow to help them save big money on that next home renovation project.Serve As The General ContractorMany homeowners hire a general contractor to control the staffing of each individual project. While this might reduce stress levels, it also costs more money. Hiring a general contractor adds an additional middle man to the project who might charge a premium for each individual project.Homeowners that need to renovate the kitchen, replace the roof, and find a new water heater should hire professionals to h... 05/05/2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for everyone to make sure they act in the best interests of their local communities and the world as a whole. This means that everyone should follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), practice social distancing measures, and obey all orders to shelter in place. When families are stuck at home, it is important to ensure the house is sanitized. This will prevent the spread of this dangerous virus. There are a few measures that everyone should take to make sure their home is as clean as possible.Clean High-Touch Surfaces FrequentlyAny surfaces that multiple people are going to touch on a regular basis need to be cleaned every day. Some of the most common surfaces people need to clean daily include... 04/09/2020