Month: March 2013

Shedding Light On The Situation

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That gold chandelier above the dining room table and the globe light bulbs around your bathroom mirror need to go. Breathe some new life into your home with updated lighting fixtures. Over a weekend your home can go from frumpy to fabulous.

Kitchen
Think about some funky colored or shaped pendant lights above the island or sink. Pendants give you a chance to bring some personality into your kitchen. Don’t get hung up on how many inches your light needs to be from the surface. Just eyeball it with somebody’s help and do what looks right to you.

Living Room
The track lighting that accents your fireplace can be replaced with recessed lights, angled to still cast light on your artwork or family photo. Recessed lighting bulbs are much smaller now and LEDs are efficient and long lasting.

Bathroom
Who says a chandelier only belongs in the entryway or dining room! Add some bling to your bathroom with a sparkly chandelier. Options that are glass or even plastic are less expensive than crystal options and much lighter.

Bedroom
Install a dimmer on your main overhead light to set a romantic mood or help you unwind before bedtime. A light with an adjustable level is also great in the morning so you aren’t blasted with bright light as soon as your day begins.

If you’ve never installed a light fixture, count on a friend to show you the way or read the instructions all the way through before taking down the old fixture. And always be sure to shut off the power at the electrical box before you start.

What’s hiding behind those walls?

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A well-staged house might be hiding a dirty little secret. Black mold. Fire damage. Shoddy home improvements. Pet stains below the carpet. You can’t always tell the true condition of a home just by walking through, but it’s hard to hide damage from a home inspector.

If you are buying a home, getting a home inspection is one of the single-most important “checks” you need to conduct to make sure the home is safe and secure. An inspection can be several hundred dollars, but uncovering what lies within before you own the house has several advantages.

  1. Peace of mind – you’ll know moving in the actual condition of your new home.
  2. Negotiation tool – if there are issues that need to be corrected, you can lower your offer price or ask the seller to fix the problems prior to closing.
  3. Easy out – if the inspection reveals issues that are too big or unsettling, you can opt out of buying the house.
  4. Plan for the future – the inspection may reveal minor updates that don’t pose safety issues that you may be able to address down the road.

The inspector will take several hours to fully inspect a home. You may be able to be in the home while the inspector works. If not, you should receive a detailed report that includes plumbing, electrical, mechanical and roof analyses. You inspector can usually tell you how many years you can wait before replacing a roof or major appliances or mechanicals including hot water heater and air conditioning unit. You might also be required to have a termite inspection.

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial investments you’ll make. Take the extra step to have an inspection and protect yourself from moving into a money pit.


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