When you’re buying a home, there’s a lot of excitement that surrounds the search and purchase of the property. In the process of buying a home, however, there are many things that buyers forget to take into account during their search and budgeting. Below, you’ll find some information to help you be prepared as a buyer to consider your home purchase from all angles without missing a beat.
Remember that closing costs will be somewhere in the 3-5 percent range of the purchase price of a home. Amidst all of your savings, you’ll need to consider this a part of your expenses. Closing costs need to be paid upfront in most cases. You can roll your closing costs into the financing, but it depends on the circumstances. There are no guarantees that the lender will agree to it. Your realtor can also sometimes negotiate for the sellers to pay the closing costs, but in a seller’s market this is quite rare. Be prepared with your closing costs and understand how much you’ll need to spend so that you have an appropriate amount for the downpayment and the other expenses that you’ll incur during the process of buying a home.
Many buyers forget about all of the costs that they will need to pay for after they finish buying the house. In addition to a monthly mortgage payment, you’ll need to pay for things like utilities, routine home maintenance, furnishings, and more. If you completely deplete your savings for the purchase of the home, there’s not a whole lot of wiggle room for you to pay for additional needs in the house.
You may move into a home with a few pieces that you have previously owned. You could also need a lot of things from a bed to a sofa. All of these items can add up. You may even have to worry about little things like window shades, curtains, lamps, light bulbs, and more.
If something needs to be done in your home, the repairs can cost you quite a bit. If you’re not paying attention during the home inspection, you’ll be in for some surprises. That’s why you need a good realtor to help you through the process. A new roof can cost thousands of dollars. New appliances are an expense you should plan for. Other major work that needs to be done around the house can also dip into your savings significantly. As a buyer, you need to be prepared for any of these expected or completely unexpected costs.
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Picking the right veterinarian for your pets matters. It will put you at ease every time they need a healing touch. Whether you're new in town, or your pet has a specific issue you'd like carefully tended, here's how to find a vet who will offer you a high standard of care.
You can start with a simple search: "veterinarian near me." Then, take a look at each website that comes up on the first page of search results. Check out the vets' biographies. Do they belong to the American Veterinary Medical Association? What about your state's or region's veterinary medical association? These are key credentials.
Now, talk with your neighbors who take a keen interest in their pets' well-being. They will be able to give you recommendations. Don't just ask your neighbor which office they use. Ask which of the practice's vets they couldn't do without!
The two strategies above, combined, will start a solid, well-informed search.
Round your strategy out by going onto the online review sites (such as Yelp or Google), and confirm the opinion you have made.
Sure, some people use review sites to vent. But many clients use the sites to praise particular vets and their pets' experiences. And the negative reviews are likely to be answered in a polite, professional way by a good veterinary office.
During your first appointment, consider all of these aspects good signs:
You'll want to know there are at least two vets on staff, to offer adequate coverage for absences. And the office should offer at least some weekend hours.
Do not be embarrassed about switching to a new vet if you develop concerns about your current practice. You might also just wish to go with another, highly recommended vet.
But do collect all the necessary information before you switch. Ask for full records pertaining to your pet. These might be handed to you on a disk, or sent directly to your new vet.
Best wishes settling in with the perfect vet to oversee the health of your best buddies for life.
Increasing the curb appeal of your home’s exterior might feel like a gigantic project. With so many details that combine to make up the aesthetic of your home it's difficult to know where to start. It can be even more difficult to budget for a long list of upgrades. Luckily, there are some simple changes you can do yourself and save money.
Here are some simple DIY projects to boost your curb appeal:
If you have small windows you might think you’re stuck with them unless you do a complete remodel. Luckily there are some impressive tricks to make your windows appear larger with no major construction. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to add faux window shutters. Inexpensive plastic shutters are widely available in a variety of sizes, colors and finishes and can also be painted to match your home. You can purchase shutters in kits that come with their own fasteners that will attach directly to your home siding. All you need is a cordless drill and a hammer to install them.
Not only do faux window shutters make your windows look bigger, they also add a timeless charm to your home. They are also a great way to break up an otherwise blank slate of a facade. Choosing a color that contrasts with the walls but fits within the home’s overall color scheme will add visual interest and make your home stand out from a distance.
Another easy DIY project to improve your curb appeal is to hide any utility components that detract from the beauty of the home. These can include anything from electrical boxes, exterior piping and cables to your air conditioner. The easiest way to disguise components attached to the house is to paint them the same color as the siding so that they blend in rather than interrupt a beautiful facade. Make sure you work safely when painting and use the correct primer for the utility surfaces.
For larger components like air conditioner units, painting might not be enough to disguise them. Instead, you can arrange plants, either planted or in containers, to block them from view while adding extra greenery to the home. You can also purchase a small amount of fencing to go around the unit. Whatever you use to disguise your air conditioner just make sure you leave it accessible for any maintenance.
Want to add instant charm or dress up an exterior wall on a budget? Consider adding some faux stone panels. Natural stone has a classic aesthetic appeal but can fit any architectural style. While full natural stone siding is expensive and time-consuming, these panels come in kits and in various sizes and styles to add the look of actual stone without the hassle and price tag. This is an especially great way to dress up a concrete slab foundation. Simply attach the panels with adhesive and snap together like puzzle pieces to cover the area desired. This will instantly boost the curb appeal of the entire home, even if you only cover a small area.
When it comes to curb appeal, every improvement you make is an investment. Whether you’re planning to sell your home or simply want it to look better, there are plenty of changes you can DIY while boosting your home’s resale value and aesthetic.
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Garden edging is an aspect of landscaping design that serves both practical and aesthetic purposes. You can use edging as a decorative border around plant and flower beds, pathways and lawns using a variety of materials. Here we will go over some of the key benefits of garden edging as well as commonly used materials.
Edging not only creates a visual edge to various portions of a landscape, but also creates a physical barrier between them. Unlike a fence or raised garden bed wall, most garden edging is laid into the ground to be perfectly level with the surrounding landscape. What might look like a small barrier can have large benefits. One benefit is that edging creates a physical barrier between different parts of the landscape to confine loose and delicate material like potting soil. This will prevent messiness and also add a layer of defense against pests and wandering plant life. Using garden edging between turf grass and a flower bed will prevent the grass from invading the planting space. Also, garden edging made from looser material like gravel or sand can also assist with proper drainage.
Brick - One of the most popular and widely used edging materials is brick. Because of its size and shape, it’s easy to fit the edges of your garden in curves and straight lines. The color or brick can also create a great visual contrast when placed next to lawns, concrete or other stone surfaces.
Belgian Block - Belgian blocks are made of solid granite and are some of the most commonly used stones for pathways, driveways and patios. They are like brick in their rectangular shape but come in a variety of sizes and colors. Because granite is one of the toughest materials on the planet, Belgian blocks are extremely durable.
Concrete - Concrete is a great choice of edging material if you need specific measurements. You can cut concrete into custom shapes and sizes and even buy pre-made edging kits including corners and curves for easy installation. You can also make your own concrete blocks for an even more custom DIY approach.
Cedar - Wood edging is durable and a great way to create a natural and rustic look. You can use lots of different varieties of wood for garden edging, but cedar is by far the most popular because of its durability. You can find rolls of pre-made cedar edging in a variety of styles and use it to wrap around gardens of all sizes and shapes.
River Stone - Another excellent choice of edging material for a more natural and organic aesthetic is river stone. Since each stone is unique in size, shape and color, edging made from river stone will have lots of character and room for creativity. River stones contrast with other common materials like brick and Belgian block because they are rounded and smooth rather than rectangular. Unless set with mortar, however, river stone edging is typically loose and therefore not immune to being dislodged accidentally.
These are some of the most popular materials for landscape edging, but there are countless other ways to create borders between plant zones. Edging can be a great way to repurpose materials like glass bottles, cinder blocks or even plastic. Regardless of the material you choose, it can be an excellent DIY project and will benefit both the look and health of your landscape.
