Real Estate – Juices in Real Estate

6 Tips for Buying a Real Estate Without Being Ripped Off

Posted on August 24, 2020January 22, 2021 by realestatejuice

Purchasing a new home is perhaps the single largest financial decision you will possibly ever make. Also, you will generally purchase a home once in a lifetime. The risk of making adverse mistakes is hence rife, given this. There is also the danger of being scammed by your colleagues due to their elevated experience.

To help you with making the most informed decision, we have investigated and are going to showcase some of the tips whose adherence may help you out. Indeed, by adhering to the tips hereunder, you could even save thousands of dollars in the course of making a purchase. Please also see the latest info with regards to The Reef at King’s Dock which is by Mapletree and Keppel Group. The development is located at the Greater Southern Waterfront and is close to Vivocity.

Below are six of the major tips which you should adhere to while buying a house without ever getting ripped off:

#1: Purchase a home only if you intend to reside there longer

You should only purchase a home if you plan to stay there for longer. Homes, as we have already intimated, do cost too much to acquire. It is not uncommon for some mortgage plans, which are the principal means of purchasing first homes, to go beyond 30 years.

Embarking on a purchase at a time when you are not certain of your stay there is tantamount to ‘throwing away money.’ You might have to put your plans on hold if you still do not intend to settle or have other priorities in the meantime. That may require some introspection before embarking on a purchase.

#2: Take your time to shop for a house

After you have decided to make a purchase, you have to take your time to shop for one. This simply means you taking your time and effort to examine the many options that are available for your consideration before settling on a specific one. You may have to get online and inquire with many realtors.

In the course of doing that, you have to consider the floor size of the home you are desirous of, the number of bedrooms, the location of the home, the amenities provided for in the facility, and of course, the overall price of the home. A face-to-face inspection of the facility will definitely be handy.

#3: Make a careful selection of the realtor

To be able to make the right choice, you have to make a careful selection of the realtor. This is the agency or the individual that will help you to make the most successful purchase. The kind of realtor you pick for the job has the ability to make or break the situation.

Choose one who is trustworthy and experienced and enjoy better services with zero possibilities of getting scammed. Pick the one who is less experienced or has a checkered past and get duped of your hard-earned money. You may have to inquire from the past clients for the necessary testimonials and reviews.

#4: Set a Budget and adhere to it

When all is said and done, whether or not you will make a home purchase will depend on the financial resource endowment at your disposal. It is hence imperative that you set a budget and adhere to it. The budget you pick has to be affordable and well within your easy reach.

It is rare that you will have the whole amount at one go. That is why it pays to break down the financial endowment. This entails stating the sources of the funding for the purchase of the home. Examples could be loans, mortgage, savings, or family sources. Assign concrete figures against each source for added clarity.

#5: Find and make use of a great inspector

In the course of assessing a home, you will definitely require the services of an inspector. This is a professional or a company that is dedicated to matters of the property inspection. Let his trusted person or company check out for the existence of molds, termites, leaks, or other forms of damages.

Needless to say, you should deal with the emergent issues before you sign the home purchase contract. Purchasing a home without these issues taken good care of will only serve to make your more inconvenient while at the same time inflating the final price of purchase. It is the responsibility of the property owner to do that.

#6: Make use of a reliable property agent

Lastly, you also have to make use of a reliable property agent to facilitate the change of ownership of the home from its present owner to you. The agent negotiates with the sellers, writes offers, makes arrangements for property views, advises the clients appropriately, and guides the buyer through the necessary paperwork.

For an agent to qualify for the job, he has to have been in operations or existence for quite some time, obtained a wealth of experience all the while, and have a spending track record of the people whom he has already assisted to purchase homes.

CONCLUSION

Needless to say, the six tips we have delineated and explained above are not all that may be necessary to make the most informed purchasing decision. There are indeed many other tips that may equally be of help to you. Nonetheless, the six tips above are the most crucial.

You hence have to make every effort to internalize them and adhere as closely as possible to them in your search for and find of the most suitable home. What more could we possibly add? Have we not belabored the points in-depth and in a manner that is satisfactory? We ask you to share the insight with the others who might need it as well.

Make Over Tips For Your Home

Posted on July 31, 2020 by realestatejuice

Just as you take your car for a regular tune-up to ensure it continues to run smoothly, your home also needs some special attention. There is a lot more to keeping up a house than cutting the grass and clearing snow from the driveway.

Ensuring your home “looks” good and is in proper working order not only makes it more attractive and comfortable, but it can also increase the market value of the property.

Homeowners who plan to move within a few years are often reluctant to invest time and money on improvement projects that may not pay them back. But unless these improvements are very specialized, any project you choose -from fixing leaky faucets to installing new energy efficient windows -will start to pay you back in energy savings and comfort long before you sell. The wisest improvements you can make to any home are those that keep it running smoothly and bring it up to the standards of other homes in the immediate area. And these needn’t break your budget.

Start with simple repairs that don’t cost a lot and you can do yourself: securing loose tiles, adjusting a door, installing a lock, repairing a leaky faucet or pipes, and so on.

If the decor in your home is bothering you, don’t decide right away to rip everything out. Changing styles in decor and every-day wear and tear can make any home look worn and tired. But all it may take to make your home look more attractive and in better repair are small improvements such as refacing cabinets and counter tops, changing the colour scheme, repainting, paneling, hanging new wall coverings or installing new lighting.

It is a good idea to locate and read your gas, electricity and water meters on a weekly or monthly basis. This will help you gain an understanding of seasonal increases and decreases in consumption and enable you to take measures to become more energy and water efficient. The savings could be substantial.

You should have your furnace inspected and serviced annually to ensure there are no problems. Unless you know a lot about furnaces, this is something you should not do yourself. You can and should, however, change or clean the furnace filter regularly. You should also inspect the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home; you want to be certain these work in the event of a fire or other emergency.

While replacing leaky faucets can drastically improve a bathroom’s appearance and cut down on water usage, sometimes it takes a lot more than that to bring an old bathroom to an acceptable standard.

A bathroom tune up can pay big dividends. The first items to replace should be the fixtures -the sink, faucets, vanity, bathtub, shower and toilet. This is where you will add value and save money by opting for a water-efficient toilet, water-conserving showerhead and faucets, efficient fans and other energy-saving devices.

The floors, walls and accessories are not an essential part of a bathroom tune-up but you can save time and money if you do your overhaul all at once rather than one piece at a time.

Other good major home improvements include replacing old carpets and flooring with new, more durable products; adding a garage or carport if your home does not have one; installing central air conditioning; repairing or adding a fireplace; upgrading your basement space; replacing old windows with new energy-efficient ones; adding terraces, wooden decks and fences that add privacy; and investing in landscaping that adds value and is easy to keep up.

Making your home attractive doesn’t always require major renovations. Changing the colour scheme, repainting, hanging new window coverings and installing new lighting and flooring can help give your home the facelift it needs without breaking your budget.

Improving the “look” of your home not only makes it more attractive and comfortable, but may also increase the market value of your property. If, however, you are hoping to recoup your home improvement costs someday soon, stay away from specialized improvements such as pools, saunas, gyms, greenhouses and dark rooms. These are the types of improvements which -while they may be personally appealing -have little demand and, as a result, little added value.

The wisest improvements in any home are those that bring it up to the standards of other properties in the immediate area. If most properties have garages, central air, home office and fireplaces, these are well-worth adding. Improvements to enhance the exterior of your home -such as fencing, decks, shade trees, shrubs and landscaping -can also add value.

Before you begin your home improvement project, determine your style. It is best to choose colours and decorations and stick to one style. Chances are you won’t be replacing all the furniture and fixtures in your home, so try to work any new colour schemes with the furnishings you have. For continuity and to create spaciousness, maintain the same colour scheme throughout the living areas of the home, varying only the accent colour from room to room. Break away from these rules in your personal spaces, such as bedrooms and bathrooms.

When it comes to home decorating, colour and paint are your best friends. Colours can visually enlarge or reduce the size of a room, and can heighten or lower a ceiling. One of the best ways to update your home is to use paint. Paint can transform dated cupboards and vanities into bright new features in a room. The splashy colours and techniques available can add life to almost anything. You can brighten old floors and even give them a faux tile look using paint and polyurethane. Paint can also do wonders to the exterior of your home.

Do your windows provide a beautiful view? If so, be sure to keep the window coverings light and simple. If privacy is an issue, however, you will want to consider heavier fabric or blinds or blinds that offer privacy while still allowing the light to shine through. There are so many colours and types of window coverings to choose from that you will have little trouble finding something both eye-catching and functional.Lighting can change the mood of a room. Bright lights stimulate activity; dim lights help you relax. Install dimmers for flexible mood lighting. If you want to create a warm atmosphere, use small pools of light instead of general lighting. The exterior of your home will also benefit from spotlights and floodlights that highlight your garden, walls and other features.

A ceiling skylight will dramatically increase the sense of extra space in a room and let in more light than a window the same size. It can transform a dark area into a brightly lit living space. Ventilating skylights can let in air as well. If your budget is too tight to install a skylight, try adding recessed floodlights to a ceiling or track lighting in areas you want to brighten.It’s amazing what homeowners have discovered under the rug. If your home has old wall-to-wall carpeting, take a peek to see if there is hardwood underneath. Wood floors may only need polishing or sanding down and sealing with polyurethane to restore them to their original beauty. Even when they can’t be restored, wood floors can still be rescued with paint.

If you decide on new flooring, consider the wear and tear the room will have. Hard-wear areas like the kitchen and bathrooms benefit from resilient flooring choices such as ceramic and vinyl tiles. You can give any floor extra character by adding inexpensive area rugs, even over wall-to-wall carpeting.Many home improvement stores, paint stores, wallpaper outlets, etc. offer free decorating advice. Take advantage of this service during the planning stages of your make over. Ask for samples of paint colours and fabric and take them home to ponder. Above all, take your time and be sure you choose a colour or fabric you will enjoy for a long time.

Drain Cleaner That is Earth Friendly

Posted on July 22, 2020 by realestatejuice

Drain Cleaner That is Earth Friendly

Drains in a house get clogged, either from debris that has been flushed or from tree roots that have grown into the main line of the household sewage system. Regardless of the severity of the clog, homemade drain cleaner can be made easily and tried first before resorting to more expensive means. Please also see the latest development at Phoenix Residences.

Why Drains Get CloggedSometimes a drain will get clogged because too much grease or fatty debris has been poured down the drain and the grease has congealed once it has cooled. Other times a drain becomes clogged because debris has bunched up in the pipe or in the case of main sewer lines, tree roots have grown into the pipes, causing blockages.

Simple Steps to Unclog a Blocked DrainIt is wise and time savi

Drain Cleaner That is Earth Friendlyng to start with the easiest way to unblock a clogged drain first. Pour boiled water down the drain. If the blockage is due to congealed grease, boiled water will be enough to take care of the blocked drain. Boiled water is hot enough to melt congealed grease and it is a simple, cheap way to take care of a drain that is blocked by fatty materials.

If the drain is still clogged after several kettles of boiled water, pour a cup of vinegar down the drain and wait about 30 minutes. The acidity of vinegar may break up materials that are clogging the drain without the need for any further chemicals.

Homemade Drain Cleaner is Simple to MakeIf boiled water and vinegar do not unclog a blocked drain, a simple solution made of vinegar and baking soda is the next step to take to break up the blockage.

Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain followed quickly with two cups of vinegar. The solution will create a significant amount of bubbles that will travel down the drain to clog. The acidic solution created by the mixture of vinegar and baking soda will attack the debris clogged in the drain and should be the last step needed to take care of the problem.

Homemade drain cleaner can be used to work on bigger plumbing problems as well. If the main line sewer pipe is blocked, the same steps taken to unclog a drain can be used to try and unblock the main sewer line. Repeat each step in every drain in the house, including toilets, showers and all sinks. The amount of homemade solution that gets to the mainline will be significant.

Homemade drain cleaner is acidic enough to dissolve tree roots that are causing problems with the main sewer line. If drains continue to drain slowly, continue the process of flushing homemade drain cleaner down the drains to ensure that the main sewer line is getting enough drain cleaner to take care of invading tree roots.

Read more at Suite101: Homemade Drain Cleaner that is Earth Friendly: Safe and effective solutions created from every day materials https://web.archive.org/web/20100405010736/http://home-plumbing.suite101.com/article.cfm/homemade-drain-cleaner-that-is-earth-friendly#ixzz0kBRzMECr

Real Estate Developer City Developments Limited

Posted on June 16, 2020December 16, 2020 by realestatejuice

City Developments Limited Real Estate Developer

City Developments Limited alias CDL is a real estate company that is based in Singapore. It is one of the most successful real estate companies in the globe since it has connections widely. It has ties in almost all countries in the world. CDL does not only deal with housing people but also branches into the hotel industry with several successful hotels, including Millennium & Copthorne, based in London. City Developments Limited is a household name when it comes to real estate. The company has been in business for over 50 years, and they have built and sold property that expands over 20 million square feet in that time. The figure also comprises of building dream homes for over 40,000 people. These figures attest to the amount of hard work and dedication to the management team upholds. City Developments Limited is the largest and most successful real estate company in Singapore. CDL has projects in China, the UK, and America. Employees at CDL are always there to help customers. Their customer care team is ready 24/7 and willing to assist. There are ways you can get in touch with them through their social media platform and toll-free lines.

Just like other big stories and developments of great businesses, City Developments Limited started its journey over 50 years ago in 1963 in an office in Malaysia. At the time, they only had eight employees. During that period, their primary source of income was homes. They found homes and sold them to willing buyers. The team’s dedication lifted them from a rented space to buying their first office in the heart of Malaysia. Upon the death of their founder, CDL had made a name for themselves. With over 20 properties, and had started venturing the hotel industry. They also deal with malls and other such areas of business. They have built many shopping malls and also develop d others that required a re-boost.

City Developments Limited has won many prizes for their work in real estate. This is attributed to the outstanding work as the competition in the recent world cannot be dismissed to be minute. CDL also has several other rewards for their action in environmental conservation, and this shows that CDL is an all-round company that cares for the environment. His is a good way in which CDL has also given back to the community. City Developments Limited has also made many contributions to the communities they are based in by making their lives better. They have also participated in various CSR projects

Today City Developments Limited has offices all over the world with thousands of workers. Various prospective customers can easily get their services all around the world as it is even closer. A dream that started with only eight employees now has thousands of people working for them with property and hotels across the globe. CDL has ties in more than 25 countries and offices in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Liang Court BidAlong with the renovation, the consortium plans to revive the river promenade flanking the property, following a draft plan of 2019 by the Renovation Authority to enhance the territory’s vibrancy. That is relied upon to create group exercises around the proposed project, improve footfall, and enable pedestrian accessibility along the Singapore River.

The renovation of Liang Court denotes another coordinated effort between CDL and CapitaLand following a year ago’s capable joint offer to build up a commercial and private project in Sengkang Central on Buangkok station. The 680house individual section of the integrated development, Sengkang Grand project, has sold 235 units since its dispatch.

After ongoing sales accomplishment at Sengkang Grand Residences, we are respected to accomplice CapitaLand on one more integrated renovation that will change Clarke Quay. That will make it one of Singapore’s most energizing entertainment precincts. With different frontages and convenient access to Fort Canning, the Liang Court project has extraordinary locational attributes for an integrated development comprising private, hotel, and overhauled residence components. By saddling the qualities and capacities of the considerable number of partners included, we intend to transform the project into an iconic milestone along the Singapore River.

The Singapore River planning territory is a dynamic local and international symbol – home to a heap of social, legacy, and way of life contributions. They are arranged in the core of Clarke Quay. This is Singapore’s most popular riverfront way of life and entertainment precinct. This integrated project is joined by River Valley Road from the Central Expressway. It appreciates an excellent network using public vehicles going straight to Fort Canning on the Downtown Line and is a short stroll from Clarke Quay Station on the North-East Line. The property is likewise connected to an overhead pedestrian bridge that gives straight access to Fort Canning Park, a notable chronicled hilltop milestone.

Using Your Hard Earned Sweat Money to Get 125% Equity Loan

Posted on June 4, 2020 by realestatejuice

A 125% equity loan or 125% home equity line of credit enables one to borrow up to 125% of the value of one’s home or equity in one’s home. Popular now, 125% equity loans allow people to borrow to pay for college, home improvements, pay off credit card debts and even purchase new properties. The downside of the 125% equity loan is that it is so appealing that some people end up borrowing over their heads.

This Lending Network offers customized, competitive home equity, second mortgage, and refinance rates on loans up to 125% of the appraised value of your home.

Many lenders are willing to lend borrowers up to 125% of the home’s value, minus the first mortgage’s balance. This can be used for loan consolidation or for other priorities such as buying a new car. The 125% LTV or Loan-To-Value really took off in 1997 as has never looked back since. Loan-To-Value simply means the ratio between the fair market value of a home and the percentage of that value that is still owed to the lenders.

The 125% equity loan is an off-shoot of the second mortgage loans offered in the early 1990’s, which were primarily used for home improvements. These home improvements would generally increase the value in a home so there was a tangible pay-off for these loans. The 125% equity loan now days is most often used for debt consolidation rather than home improvements, though it really can be used for whatever the borrower wishes.

The average 125% equity loan is from $10,000 to $50,000, which can be used to consolidate credit card debt, pay off student loans and often-times have some cash left over for home improvement or personal use. The 125% equity loan has been heavily marketed over the past several years, on radio and television by smaller firms willing to take the risk as lenders. Traditional mortgage companies are now coming on board since the profit margin is quite in the lender’s favor.

Credit card debt is at an all-time high now and borrowers are taking advantage of the 125% equity loans to help with this relief. The popular 125% equity loans are not for everyone, however, as consumers wishing to qualify for a 125% LTV loan will need a FICO credit score of 650-700 or above. In order to receive these loans, borrowers will also need good jobs, stead incomes and good payment histories to receive the required scores. The ideal candidate for this kind of loan is a borrower with considerable debt but who has always been able to pay the bills and simply needs some relief.

Sweat equity is equity in a business or home that is the direct result of hard work by the owner or owners. Sweat equity is solely based on the time and effort of the contributors in contrast to financial equity, which is based on the monetary contribution to a home or project. The term sweat equity is sometimes used in partnership agreements when one or more partners contribute time, energy, creativity and effort instead of capitol.

It’s true that one of the most valuable assets you have in your home is your own hard work. Learn how to make money with fixer-uppers.

With Visual Tours you can upload video visual tours and photos of your home or property.

The term sweat equity can also be applied to the value added by owners of real estate who make improvements based on their own efforts. The greater labor applied to a home, the greater the increase in value is the general rule. Also, the greater the labor, the more sweat equity has been used up. Typical sweat equity projects are home improvement efforts which add the most value to a home. Paint, wallpaper and carpeting projects undertaken by the owner can mean greater value to a property than other projects and thus involves a greater sweat equity in that property.

Improving kitchens and bathrooms offer opportunities to increase a home’s value the greatest and thus efforts in these areas by the owners equate to greater sweat equity. In addition, and owner-built home or an addition to a home built by the owner offer the greatest sweat equity opportunities.

Purchasing a modular home also offers opportunity for sweat equity savings off the retail price of a home. Many times, home can be purchased for wholesale prices when the owners decide to take on some of the sweat equity projects themselves. Such sweat equity projects may include: electrical, plumbing, drywall, painting, carpentry, siding or brickwork or other project needed to finish a home. The owner has the ability to save money and build equity using hard work at the same time. With this kind of sweat equity, the owner can also reduce their initial loan amount, saving considerable principal and interest payments in the future.

Some charitable organizations use sweat equity to build low income housing for those who cannot afford it. By organizing many skilled and unskilled people to work on a home at the same time, these charities can often do most of the labor for free while many times materials are donated. The sweat equity in homes such as these are in the 90 to 100-percent area and are based solely on the hard work and labor of many willing participants.

Home Insurance and Mortgage Protection Insurance For Your Home

Posted on May 30, 2020July 10, 2020 by realestatejuice

Just because you live in a state that is a low risk for something like a tornado or a hurricane does not mean you will get away with no high-risk insurance. In fact, you maybe unfortunate enough to live in an area considered a flood plane. If this is the case, most home insurance companies do not even cover flood insurance, but will require you to go through the National Flood Insurance agency.

If you are living in an area where you will need high risk insurance, insurance companies you call regarding premiums will most likely inform you of your needs for insurance and whether or not these will be covered by their basic policy. Be certain that you understand that you may or may not be covered for hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wind and hail damage resulting from natural disasters. Please see the latest condo for your updates.

You may be required to purchase additional insurance, or if the homeowners insurance company does not cover this type of damage, they will refer you to another company that does. Be sure you get covered for high risk insurance right away, because if you wait until hurricane or tornado season arrives to discuss this matter with your insurance company, they will likely not allow you to seek extra coverage.

Something else you need to keep in mind is that different states will have different deductibles and different rates of liability. This should all be explained by a local insurance agent. You can still use a nationwide company, but they will likely refer you to a local agent through their company that deals with your state, county or city specifically.

If you have considered getting by without homeowners insurance, think again. Most mortgage lenders will not even process your home loan paperwork unless you have already signed up for home insurance. Often, they will include your yearly insurance payment in your monthly escrow mortgage payment. This means they will charge you for the amount of the yearly premium and then pay off the homeowners insurance company to insure it gets paid.

When you call to secure insurance for your home, they will ask a series of questions relating to the exterior and interior of your home to determine the value. You will likely be given two different coverage plans, one for the cost to replace the interior of the home and one to replace just the shell of the home, or the exterior. The exterior is usually at least the price you paid when you purchased the home. The interior will include your personal items, as well as appliances.

Different states also have various policies regarding the cancellation of a homeowners insurance policy. Some states will allow for the company to cancel your policy within the first 30-60 days of setting up the policy if the insurance company can provide sufficient reason. Most state laws require that the company inform the policy owner by mailing a 10-day notice. This means that they cannot send you a policy cancellation notice on the same day they cancel your insurance.

If you have had the insurance policy for over 60 days, there are only a few reasons why the policy can be cancelled. Commonly cited reasons include failure to pay the premium or finding out the policy owner had previous charges of fraudulence insurance or home related arson charges.

Mortgage protection insurance comes in a couple of different varieties. With mortgage protection insurance one can protect a home after loss of job or loss of life. Mortgage protection insurance that covers your mortgage payments when you die is really mortgage protection life insurance. This type of mortgage protection insurance may not offer as much as a term life insurance policy, so a comparison should be made between these two types of policies, when deciding how best to protect your family.

Mortgage protection insurance for your life can also be extended to that of your spouse as well and is generally much cheaper than buying two separate policies. When applying for this type of policy, insurers take the applicant’s age, whether they are a smoker or non-smoker, and the value of the death benefits into account. In addition, the premium stays stable over the life of the policy.

The other type of mortgage protection insurance covers mortgage payments during job loss. This type of insurance may not cover self-employed workers or contract workers or active military personnel. Benefits of the job loss mortgage protection insurance may be paid directly to the mortgage company and not the home owner. In addition, some insurers can opt out of writing policies for regions hard hit by lay-offs and high unemployment numbers.

Mortgage protection insurance should not be confused with Private Mortgage Insurance. Private mortgage insurance offers limited protection in that it only pays off a portion of your loan if you default, whereas mortgage protection insurance will pay off your entire loan when you die or helps you with your payments because of job loss. If you’ve purchased a home with less than a 20-percent down payment, your lender most likely required you to purchase private mortgage insurance. Private mortgage insurance will get you into a home, but mortgage protection insurance keeps the payments steady during rough times.

Ways to Do It Yourself For Your Kitchen and Bathroom

Posted on May 25, 2020 by realestatejuice

I’ve worked at Latitude for over 6 years and finally, my family and I decided to replace our laminate countertops with granite countertops. For a long time, we weren’t able to afford or take the time to upgrade our kitchen and bathrooms. But after almost 20 years of living in the same house, it was time. As with most home renovation projects, it started with one thing that we wanted to replace – the toilets (they were gross and the ceramic was yellow) – but became a large, all encompassing project. Our thought that was since we’re replacing the toilets, we should replace the bathtub and the sinks so they’d all be white. The bathtub and tiles also needed to go; they had mildew and were gross. Well, if we were changing the sinks, might as well change the countertops. If we were changing the bathroom countertops, we should change the kitchen countertops. Now we can’t have beautiful countertops and ugly cabinets, so we’ll paint them (when I say we, I meant me)! Plus, we wanted to do everything on a budget.

We saved a lot of money by painting the cabinets, removing the countertops ourselves and we purchased granite countertops from Latitude’s remnant material. The prices are marked down so much that essentially, you are only paying for the labour and even that had been discounted. Since I work at Latitude, I’ve been scoping out the remnants as jobs get cut. For the kitchen, I found a beautiful piece of Crema Bourdeaux and for the vanities I got Black Galaxy. I’m lucky because our kitchen is small and there are no seams. When looking for remnant granite and quartz for your kitchen countertops and there are seams, you must find pieces that are from the same lot or be able to get it from the same piece. Any time two pieces are seamed together they must come from the same block, piece or lot, so that when the pieces meet, the colours are matched as closely as possible.

I had a templator come in and template all the bathrooms and the kitchen. They come in with a digital plotter that is accurate within the millimetre. Of course I knew all this before they came to my house, but it was still impressive to see how the granite fits like a glove around the odd corners in the kitchen and in my mom’s bathroom.
cabinets before Kitchen & Bath DIY Reno

The night before the installation I removed all our countertops, disconnected the plumbing and installed shut-off valves. Removing the countertops was easy; disconnecting the plumbing and installing the shut off valves was a little trickier – considering that before this I didn’t even know where the main shut off for the water was in the house (I found it close to the water heater). Once you shut the water off, don’t disconnect the faucet right away. It’s a good idea to turn all the faucets on to drain any water that is caught in the pipes; even then, keep a bucket with you. I had a few unexpected “fountains”.

You will need 2 wrenches to detach the plumbing. I used compression shut-off valves and purchased them from the Home Depot. Not knowing what size I needed, I armed myself with a nut that I removed from the pipes and headed out to the Home Depot. There, I matched the nut that I removed to the nut that was on the bottom of the shut-off valve (the handle of the valve points down in the open position and a quarter turn up will stop the water).

To install the shut-off valves: I unscrewed the nut and removed the bearing from the bottom, placed the nut, then the bearing, then finally the actual shut-off valve on the pipe and screwed the nut on to the shut-off valve. It says to “not over-tighten” on the package but that doesn’t mean “finger” tighten; I learned that after another set of fountains when I tried to turn the main water back on. You will need to tighten with a wrench!

Detaching the sink for the piping was easy. So was detaching the laminate countertops from the wall and the cabinets. First thing you do to remove the countertops is to take a knife and score between the wall and the laminate backsplash. Next, unscrew everything that holds the countertop to the cabinets. The vanities and the countertops without the kitchen sink I was able to remove myself, but the kitchen countertop with the sink is easier to remove with help so that the top can be lifted straight up. Lifting it at an angle makes it harder for the Sink to disengage from the pipes. The same issue can occur when removing the bathroom countertops but because of the smaller size, you can lift it out straight up yourself.

I removed all the cabinet doors before the installation so that I could paint the cabinet frames before the installation but it is recommended that you keep the cabinet doors on so that the installers can ensure that the doors and drawers can open with the countertop on.

The installers were great!! First thing they did when they came into the house was lay down drop cloths! They have to keep their steel toe boots on for safety reasons, which is completely understandable. I don’t even want to think about how much it would hurt to drop a piece of granite on my toes. They inspected all the cabinets to make sure they were level (which they were). This is very important since an unlevel countertop can cause cracks and the seam to break in the future. The installers can shim it up a little bit but how much they can shim it will depend on the edge you choose (can’t shim ¾” and 1 ¼” edges since the shims will show). They check to make sure the sinks will fit in the cabinets.

If they don’t fit, they (the installers) will cut away at some of the cabinet supports (don’t worry, they wouldn’t cut any gables that would compromise the integrity of the cabinets). Then they brought in all the pieces and placed them on the cabinets for a dry fit and made any adjustments to the tops. The tops were then siliconed into place along with the sinks. Before the sinks were installed, I attached the faucets to the top (a great idea from Bob Gilson, the CFO of Latitude) since it would be really difficult to install them after the sink is in. I would have had to wedge myself in the cabinet and try to tighten and screw things in and knowing me, I’d probably get stuck and create a third fountain if I waited till the sinks were in.

The installers took a lot of care when they siliconed the wall and the countertops to prevent gaps where water could seep in. All in all, they did a beautiful job. I was very impressed! AND they cleaned and vacuumed after themselves, which I really appreciated.

Roofing Options For Your Home to Keep You Home Green

Posted on May 25, 2020 by realestatejuice

Looking for a way to reduce your energy costs? If you consult your local energy company, you will likely receive a brochure explaining how to wrap your pipes, put a blanket around your hot water heater, plugging cracks and holes through which drafts can flow, and adding reflective coatings to your windows. No harm in any of that, and it’s a good start. But for homeowners, there is a better place to start – start at the top, with your roof.

Why start with the roof? For the same reason that your mother tells you to wear a hat outside in snowy weather – just as most of your body heat is lost through your head, most of your home’s heat is lost through the roof. Heat rises.

Likewise, your roof is the part of your home that is most exposed to the sun, so the question of whether your home will absorb the sun’s heat or reflect it back into the atmosphere is decided right there – on the roof.

Homeowners don’t like to mess with their roofs, and for good reason – roof work can be expensive. But there are a range of options, and if you are considering an ecofriendly option such as installing solar panels, you may qualify for state or federal tax subsidies that will help to defray the cost. (To find out what subsidies exist in your area, check the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, DSIRE, or try this calculator).

If you are considering making your roof a part of your home’s energy efficiency plan, you will need to begin by answering the following questions:

What material do you want to use for your roof?
What color should your roof be?
Do you want to add solar panels or solar shingles to your roof in order to capture solar energy for electricity or to provide heat for water?

These days, homeowners have many roofing materials to choose from. Most Americans (about 75 percent) go for cheap asphalt shingles – but cheap is the best that can be said of asphalt as a roofing material. It doesn’t insulate well, it is generally not recyclable at the end of its life, and its life is not long.

On the other end of the economic spectrum, affluent homeowners will often choose wood shingles, such as cedar shakes, or slate. These options are all natural, insulate well, and are expensive. But cedar often comes from old-growth forests and slate is a non-renewable resource. Moreover, wood shingles will swell and shrink over time, producing cracks and resulting in moisture damage. Clay tiles are more durable and are made from a renewable, sustainable material, but they are so expensive that most homeowners can only manage to use them as accent materials along the edges of roofs.

Somewhere in the middle, you have metal roofs. Metal roofs insulate well, they have high solar reflectance (meaning they stay cooler in the summer), they last a long time, and they are frequently made from recycled metals (and can be recycled themselves at the end of their lives). But they can be somewhat expensive.

Nowadays, there is another option: recycled roofing materials. Believe it or not, you can now make your roof from recycled plastic, carpet, or tires. You can also opt for reclaimed or sustainably grown wood.

If you want to generate electric power on your roof, or at least collect enough heat to warm up water, you may want to start with a basic metal roof. A standing-seam metal roof can work well as a base for thin-film photovoltaic panels. You’ll be following in reputable footsteps – President Barack Obama is adding solar panels to the White House roof this year, as is Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Solar panels can be expensive – most solar panel systems cost at least $2,000 to $3,000 to install, and many cost more, depending on the system and the particular circumstances at your home. Solar panel systems pay for themselves within a few years, but that doesn’t help when you are trying to scrape together the money for the installation.

There is also another solar roofing option – solar shingles. Solar shingles may be an ideal solution if by chance you have a roof that is already shingled, but is losing shingles in (preferably) a south-facing location where you can free up 300 to 400 feet of roof space. If you need to replace shingles anyway, you may as well replace the old shingles with matching solar shingles (they are designed to blend in with the asphalt shingles that most American homes use). Like solar panels, solar shingles can be connected to your local energy grid, so that if you produce excess electricity, it can go back into the system and your electric company can reimburse you for it. By absorbing heat from the sun, solar shingles can also reduce the amount of heat that your home absorbs, so you may find that you do not need to run an air conditioner as much in the summer. Don’t expect to go entirely off-grid with solar shingles – shingles do not store solar energy (unless you have also added batteries to hold stored energy, but adding batteries can add as much as $10,000 to your shingle installation costs), so you will need your regular electric grid at night. Homeowners who choose this option find that the solar shingles pay for themselves in about 8 to 10 years, while they last for 20-40 years (depending on climate and maintenance).

Solar panels and shingles not only pay for themselves over time by allowing you to sell power back to your electric company, but they add to the value of your home. According to a recent study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 72,000 California homeowners who added solar panels to their roofs saw their home values rise by an average of $17,000 when they put their homes on the market. Consequently, you may be able to roll the cost of installation over into your mortgage.

Unless you are a roofing contractor yourself or have equivalent experience, don’t try to install your own roof. Find a contractor who is experienced in the kind of roof that you plan to put in place. If you are adding solar panels or solar shingles, you will also need an electrician. Be aware, as well, that if you are replacing a roof that was originally installed between 1940 and 1975, you may need to hire someone to do asbestos remediation. Finally, don’t forget to check your local building codes (or better yet, work with a contractor who is intimately familiar with them). Be sure, as well, to check with your homeowner’s insurance company to find out if the change in roofing materials will affect your insurance premiums.

Choosing The Right Home Security Camera and Door to Protect Your Family

Posted on May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 by realestatejuice

To protect your family, renovations on home security is needed. Home security camera systems can be a good way to monitor your surroundings, however, the options available on a home security camera can be frustrating to sift through in order to find the best system for your needs. People have different reasons for wanting a home security camera in place. There are those that find a security system necessary in order to be a more participating entrepreneur, while others feel like they need the benefit of a home security camera. Whatever your reasons, all security systems can be costly, so make sure to sit down and assess your budget before investing in camera for personal or professional use.

The first kind of home security camera is known as a dome camera. Obviously, this camera comes in the shape of a dome and it fits conveniently on the ceiling of your home or business. You will find the dome cameras often times in casinos where they are used to monitor the tables. You will also find home security at its most fashionable with the dome lens. There are dome cameras that can be placed outside, however, you must use a special armor type in order to do this kind of mounting. Sony carries two different types of dome security cameras and they are a leader in the industry. You can choose from the Verifocal dome camera, which has the highest resolution (420 lines) and an adjustable lens. You can also purchase Sony’s Infrared Armor dome camera, which acts as a hidden camera and is the most durable of all of the dome cameras. Dome cameras are the most popular security cameras because they are impossible to detect which angle they are viewing unless you are at close range. They come in black or white and they all have adjustable lenses.

The second type of home security camera is the bullet camera. The lens is long and resembles a rifle, which is where the camera finds its name. Bullet cameras are easily visible and can be mounted to a wall or a ceiling. They use a 12V DC voltage, and the power cable should be included when the camera is purchased. Most of these cameras will film in color and then change their resolutions to black and white when the light levels are lower. The resolution during the day is much better with the bullet security systems, but if you have an alternate form of lighting, like a streetlight, people can sometimes be seen from up to 70 feet away. The most popular brand of bullet security cameras is the SPECO CVC-6805SX, which is color and has a fixed lens of 4mm.

Many businesses rely on home security cameras at night. However, it can be hard to see the footage when there is no light. The infrared camera has built in lights around the lens so you are able to view your taped footage with ease. However, the infrared lighting can cause a problem when it is used at a home due to the glare that is created from the windows. Some people will think that an infrared camera is the same as a night vision camera, although the night vision camera does not have built in lighting around their lens. Prices can vary on the infrared cameras, but the most affordable home security model is the QSVC422 CCD color outdoor camera made by Digital Peripheral Solutions.

Security cameras can provide a cushion of comfort for a secure home, especially when you have an investment that you want to protect. A home security camera can scare an obvious thief, and also catch an unsuspecting one if it is a strategically hidden camera. Home security cameras have become more popular with people who own second and third homes, and feel like they need an insurance policy for their property, so to speak while the business owner has been protecting his own with security cameras since the advent of the entrepreneur. Just remember that it can never hurt to be proactive about your safety.

Sliding door security should be important to you because intruders find gaining access through most sliding doors a piece of cake. All a burglar has to do is lift out the door from its track and your sliding door security is immediately compromised. Did you know than home security experts estimate that 25% of sliding glass doors/windows in America are installed backwards. This leaves the sliding portion on the outside track! This makes it easy for any intruder to easily lift the panel out. Make sure yours is installed correctly. If it is, hunt down the contractor and have them do it right!

Now you’re aware how vulnerable your sliding door security is, but it will take you some time to do something about the problem. A broomstick is a great stopgap measure that can stop your door from sliding in its track. Your broomstick is probably the wrong size, so get a pole or dowel that fits right (short by only ¼ inch or less of track length). If you leave some space, an intruder can slip a finger or wire in to lift out the pole.

Insert a 2-foot length wood frame into the doorframe’s upper channel. Make sure the wood frame is the same width as the channel. Screw it firmly into the doorframe channel, but check first if the door can freely slide. This is based on the same principle as the wood frame. Drill 4 staggered holes into the doorframe’s upper channel. Put in metal screws so they protrude just until the door can freely slide.

These will hold your sliding doors in place, so intruders can’t lift the doors from their tracks. Also called track stops or pin locks. These bars are designed to burglar proof both sliding doors and windows. Finally, to boost your sliding door security, use a motion detector around the area. You have several attractive options. A wide range of outdoor lamp-cum-motion detectors are available to complement your sliding door design. Or you can probably turn your existing outdoor light into a motion detector. Get an estimate from your contractor or security specialist.

Simple Ways To Renovate Your House to Make it Show Room Ready

Posted on May 14, 2020 by realestatejuice

Your property is the single most important asset that you can have and therefore we should renovate and design the property. So, you’ve decided to put your house up for sale and move on to pastures new? Well, firstly, congratulations are in order! But, secondly, it is important to remind you that the hard work starts now. Before the financial crash back in 2009, the property market was relatively buoyant and moved quickly, nowadays, it is not that easy, and you have to make your house stand out on the market. Fortunately, doing so could be relatively straightforward, as long as you follow these three simple rules:

This may sound a little simple, but you’d be surprised. If you have bold, bright colours on your wall, then this may detract certain buyers, making them less likely to come for a second viewing or even purchase the property.

Likewise, if your walls are already neutral but are starting to get a little dated and worn, then freshening them up certainly won’t go a miss. A few tins of magnolia certainly won’t be expensive and, although it may take you a week or so to complete the job, it will make your house appear fresh and well cared for, making it more desirable to prospective buyers.
Target All the Senses

Although most viewers are fundamentally looking at the home, they’re also persuaded by other senses, and it is vital that you take this into account.

Simple touches like fresh flowers and air fresheners can make your home smell beautiful, making it more appealing once more. Overall, it gives the impression that your home is well looked after, and it can cover any other smells which may be unappealing, such as the smell of dogs or cigarettes.

In addition to this, also think about noise. If you live near a main road, for instance, it is well worth having the windows shut when potential buyers come round, as this will nullify the noise and show them that it really isn’t an issue, quashing their reservations.

Finally, remember that just giving the keys to your local estate agent isn’t the only option, and others are available if you’re desperate for a quick sale. For example, an online estate agent like House Buyer Bureau, could buy your home without the need for even putting it on the market, meaning you’ll shift your property much faster.

If you don’t want to give your house to an estate agent of any form, then you could even market your property yourself online and manage the sale from start to finish. Admittedly, this option is really only open to people with experience, but it remains an option nonetheless and you could save a substantial amount of money on fees.

Selling a home is getting increasingly difficult, especially as the market is beginning to stagnate in certain areas. However, there are certain shortcuts, hint and tips you can take to help make your house sell. Although they won’t guarantee to sell it, these four tips will help make your home ‘show ready’, giving it a great chance of selling quickly.

1) Start Your Packing: Clutter makes your home look much smaller than it actually is, and thus prospective tenants won’t feel as though they’re getting as much room as they actually are. Due to this, start packing and shifting non-essential items as this well help your home look bright and airy.

2) Clean, Clean, Clean: If you’ve got prospective buyers visiting then you need to ensure that it is cleaner than it has ever been. This doesn’t require a professional, just some elbow grease. Also remember that this will need doing every time someone comes for a viewing, and that you shouldn’t let your standards slip. Those smudges and smears left from breakfast and cluttered bathroom could cost you a sale.

3) Don’t Neglect the Garden: As the cliché goes, “you only get one chance to make a first impression”. When it comes to viewing properties, first impressions matter, and it is likely that your prospective buyers will make a decision in the first minute or so. Due to this, you have to make sure that your garden is as clean and tidy as the rest of your home. On top of this, it is also worth investing in some new flowers (time of year depending). Fresh, blooming flowers will create a great impression and may tip the balance from a ‘maybe’ to a ‘yes’.

4) Sort Your Problems, Don’t Cover Them: Covering your problems may get a buyer to put in an offer, but it is unlikely the house will get to a completed sale without them noticing due the survey revealing flaws. Here, you have two options: fix them or lower the asking price. By ignoring the problems, you’ll only ensure that they’ll be found further down the line; and a sale could be cancelled as a result.

For smaller, non-structural problems, renovating the home yourself can be simple. Give it a lick of paint to freshen it up and replace any cracked tiles to create the impression your home has been well looked after.

These four tips and tricks will help make your home ‘show ready’, and you’ll be ready to go to market. To maximise the chances of a sale, look for agents who specialise in certain areas like Featherstone Leigh do in Richmond. Specialist knowledge of the local area can make all the difference when it comes to finding the perfect buyer for you. There’s bound to be a specialist near you, so consult them, as they’re most likely to impress potential buyers and ensure your house is priced correctly for a good sale