Forget Remodeling, Buy New!

Wouldn't it be nice just to move into a new home and only have to decorate? Well, there are lots of options with new homes from Keystone Custom Homes in Central Pennsylvania to do just this. If you are searching for home in the Harrisburg area, the builder offers a number of communities -- Apple Creek Farms, Ivy Ridge and Silver Brook. You will find popular plans such as the Oxford, Emerson, Dawson and Ethan at these communities. Many of these homes boast gourmet kitchens designed to bring out the cook in you. You can see more of the gorgeous homes from Keystone Custom Homes on their Pinterest Page.

Here are some of the highlights from popular plans:

The Oxford floor plan is the perfect size for any family. The home's inviting foyer is flanked by a beautiful formal dining room and study, great for reading books or playing board games. The hallway then leads to a gourmet kitchen, which is open to the spacious family room with fireplace. Upstairs, three bedrooms can be found with oversized walk-in closets. The owner’s suite boasts a huge walk-in closet and a private bath.

The Ethan boasts a first floor with a study, formal dining room, family room with fireplace and a gourmet kitchen that is a chef’s dream. The kitchen features a large island, plenty of countertop space and a breakfast room. Upstairs, the owner’s suite is the perfect oasis after a long day. It includes an oversized walk-in closet and private bath. The guest bedrooms are also large with walk-in closets.

Many options for beautiful kitchens are available including hardwood floors, large islands, stainless appliances and more.

Stay Out of Debt: Budget Remodeling with Irregular Incomes

If your job causes you to have unpredictable money flow, it can be difficult to upgrade or remodel your home. The Equifax Finance Blog has some great tips about how to budget for your income of highs and lows so you can enjoy projects like a new kitchen or substantially upgrading your insulation and still avoid debt. Just check out good hints like these:

·         Set a salary – One of the best ways to set a budget for yourself is to create the illusion of a set monthly income, even if you don’t have one. To do this, experts recommend setting a low monthly salary for yourself. Simply examine your previous year’s income and base your monthly salary on the lowest months you had. By setting your average low, you will help ensure all your expenses will be covered even during your low earning months.

Budget DIY Home Repairs for Selling a Home or Living Happier

Stretch your DiY muscles to save money to live
happier and an easier time when selling a home

Whether you’re selling a home or just looking to refresh your home’s look, check out some of these tips from the Equifax Finance Blog in their article, “DIY Home Repair and Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget.”

When updating your home’s look, it is sometimes easier on you (and your wallet) to work on small details around you home first. Kitchens are often a big selling point for homes, so they are a great place to begin your DIY projects. Examine the details around your kitchen. Do you have dated curtains in the windows? Dingy or old hardware on your cabinets? These are two easy fixes that when changed, can add a more modern look to your kitchen. Simply put classic shades in the windows and change out old knobs and hardware for newer, reasonably priced ones. Voilà - these simple changes are as easy as that and take little time or effort!

Insulation Do’s and Don’ts for Real Estate

The Equifax Finance Blog has recently weighed in on the importance of going green in real estate, especially when it comes to energy efficiency. The new article “Green Real Estate Market Trends,” is all about easy ways to save money by making your home more energy-efficient:

• Do have an energy audit. Energy audits can save money by identifying the places in your home needing the most help and offering suggestions about how to improve your energy efficiency. If you’re not sure where to start, an audit is a great way to find problem areas and form a plan for savings.

Piedrafina Now Available in Construction Resources Slab Gallery

In addition to announcing their exclusive relationship with Piedrafina, Construction Resources is excited to show the first of their Piedrafina slabs have come in to their immense 20,000 square foot indoor slab gallery. The colors of Botticino, Emperador and Noche Bella are available now, with more coming soon. You can see more pictures of the newest environmentally-friendly slabs in Georgia on the Construction Resources Pinterest page.

Update Your Homeowners Insurance Annually to Stay Protected

Make sure your homeowner's insurance is upgraded
along with your projects!

How would it feel to reset your home to how it was when you first bought it? Would you be alright with living without any renovations you’ve made while still suffering the cost of the renovations? Of course not – which is why the Equifax Finance Blog points out why it’s important to keep your homeowner’s insurance in the loop in the recent article, “Renovating Your Home? Renovate Your Insurance Policy.”

For home improvement large and small, it’s important to keep a running track of your upgrades and their costs. Make sure to submit the list to your homeowner’s insurance each year or more often if you are having major work done. This protects your progress, allowing you to get the most money returned to you in the event of a disaster. To make it easier, it’s best to make a habit out of it and set a schedule with reminders as necessary to send updates to your policy holder.

Grow your retirement savings with Your Remodeling Skills

Build your retirement savings as you rebuild
and remodel homes!

If you’re keen on remodeling and design trends, you have a gift that you can make use of to grow your retirement savings. By getting a little capital together, you can turn a foreclosure from an eyesore to a desirable dwelling and net a profit. Best of all, you can defer many taxes on these ventures until you’re retired. The Equifax Finance Blog explains all about a great way for designers to build up their nest egg in the article, “Using Retirement Money for Real Estate Investments.”

Now is the perfect time to take one of the low cost foreclosed homes that are on market, and with a little work you can flip it – renovate modestly and give it some style before putting it back on the market. You can benefit from a flipped home by pricing it aggressively for sale or rent. Remember to be careful in pricing as there are others out there with the same idea as you, and you will also be competing against new foreclosures as they come onto the market.